Florida Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson will convene a field hearing titled “Threats Facing Florida’s Tourism Driven Economy” on Thursday on the University of South Florida St. Petersburg campus.
Undoubtedly, threats from climate change and sea-level rise will be on the agenda, as guest panelists include Sherry Larkin, Associate Dean for Research at the University of Florida and Mitchell Roffer, president of Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecast Service, Inc.
Also scheduled to testify are Robin Sollie, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Beaches Chamber of Commerce, and Maryann Ferenc, the co-owner of Tampa’s Mise en Place as well as a board member of the U.S. Travel Association and Brand USA.
Nelson will lead a discussion on negative impacts to Florida’s tourism industry and ways to protect and bolster it, according to a statement issued by his office Monday.
The event will take place before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, where Nelson resides as the ranking Democrat. It takes place at 1 p.m. Thursday at the USF St. Pete’s University Student Center, 200 6th Avenue South.