Fact Finding 30 Interim Report Issued Examining Impacts to CA, HI, and U.S. Pacific Territories

Commissioner Louis E. Sola today released “Economic Impact of COVID-19 on the Cruise Industry on California, Hawaii, and the Pacific,” the latest in a series of interim reports being issued as part of the ongoing Fact Finding 30 investigation he is conducting.

The report examines direct and indirect economic impacts to ports and cities in California, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and Saipan.  The report notes that the passenger cruise industry is an important part of the tourism sectors for both California and Hawaii.  Furthermore, while cruise calls to American territories in the Pacific are infrequent, the services that stop at those islands create tourism revenues without the need for investment in physical infrastructure necessary to attract tourists.

This is the fourth in a series of Interim Reports issued by Commissioner Sola examining economic impacts to cities and states as a result of the cessation of cruise ship operations.  Previous reports have focused on Florida, Alaska/Pacific Northwest, and Texas/Gulf of Mexico.  Further reports are planned.

In April 2020, the Federal Maritime Commission voted to authorize Commissioner Sola to conduct Fact Finding 30, an investigation of the economic impact on cruise lines, the ports on which cruise ships call, and the industries that serve these ships.