Christmas Island sees merrier numbers from 2023

Jan. 4—Guy Lombardo and the Andrews Sister once asked people in song, "How'd ya like to spend Christmas on Christmas Island?" Turns out, more people answered in the affirmative in 2023.

Burnside officials are still totaling the receipts, but one thing is clear: The city's Christmas Island light display attraction, located on General Burnside Island, had a better year than its sophomore slump in 2022.

After a spectacular return from a two-decade hiatus in 2021, Christmas Island's numbers dipped a bit last year, and much of the city's discussion about it heading into its 2023 start this past November was on how to drive up the number of visitors, who take a self-guided tour in their car through the island's roads which are lined with a variety of festive LED light images of holiday scenes — elves, reindeer, the Nativity, the 12 Days of Christmas, and more.

Last year, the city broke even on its investment in Christmas Island. This year? It looks like they'll have a little bit extra in returns to show for their efforts.

"We surpassed last year (in attendance) by about 1,000 cars," said Burnside Mayor Robert Lawson. "We're going to probably make a little bit (of money) to put back into it."

In all, over 6,500 cars came through Christmas Island between November 18 and the end of the year, said Burnside Tourism Director Amy Sweet.

Each year, various community organizations take turns working the gate to receive a portion of the money made to help their causes, and Lawson said he's happy that they should get a good return this year, likely around $3,000 or more for each group.

There are outstanding bills that haven't come in and credit card payments aren't available yet, but in cash only, the attraction brought in about $140,000 this year, said Lawson.

"I think we did a better job in social media this time and word-of-mouth," said Lawson. "We ran a survey this time, and it seemed like (those factors) were the big hits."

Sweet is the city's newest tourism director — the third in the last quarter — who started out late in 2023 as an assistant in that role as Jerrica Flynn finished out the year as acting tourism director. Flynn had plenty of experience helping make Christmas Island a reality in the past, and was one of the number of figures around Burnside City Hall who helped Sweet ease into her new role, of which Christmas Island will regularly be a major item on the to-do list.

"I am so thankful for the amazing folks that I work with because if it wasn't for the City of Burnside and the (tourism) board, and even the civic groups — thank goodness for everyone working together so well — I would have had no clue," said Sweet. "It does make me feel better going forward that as long as we all keep working together, it's going to be a great year ahead."

Added Lawson, "I think Amy jumped right in with both feet. She was there over three-fourths of the time trying to learn it and taking notes. Jerrica did a good job teaching her. So I feel good about Amy taking it over."

Looking ahead, Sweet said she'd like to promote the businesses in the Vendor Village set up in the Burnside Island parking lot at the Christmas Island gates more next year, and is looking to get feedback next week from vendors this past year; "Hopefully with all of us working together, we can have a game plan for the 2024 event," she said.

But to stop and look back on 2023, it was a Christmas Island season that was ultimately a joy to unwrap, despite all the challenges to get to that point.

"Overall, I'm pleased with the way it turned out," said Lawson.