BUSINESS NEWS Samuels promises global focus
Sky News presenter Jonathan Samuels will bring a global news perspective when he moderates Abta’s Travel Convention for the first time this October. He spoke to Ian Taylor
The moderator of Abta’s upcoming Travel Convention in Greece, Sky News presenter Jonathan Samuels, aims to bring a news perspective to the conference theme of ‘Shaping Our Future’. He said: “Every day I’m
interviewing people on world news and geopolitics, and I want to bring a bit of that to the convention, linking what delegates do with the bigger picture.” Samuels, who spent years as
a roving reporter, noted: “It’s a fascinating time for a journalist. We’ve a new government, a new US president coming, and the ongoing Ukraine and Israel conflicts, before we get to climate change, the cost of living and all the rest of it. All these things impact travel and tourism. “The conflict in the Middle East is affecting travel and the Ukraine war
is causing all sorts of problems for aircraft flying in that part of the world.” He noted: “Donald Trump says
he is going to stop the war in Ukraine on day one if elected. Well, it’ll be interesting to see how he does that. We’ll be in for a bumpy ride if Trump gets in. If he doesn’t . . . will he stoke anger? The US election will be fascinating, but the aftermath could be even more interesting.” Of Israel’s war on Gaza and more
recently the West Bank, Samuels said: “I interviewed somebody who used to be an Israel Defence Force spokesperson who no longer has that hat on, and he felt the [Israeli] government doesn’t have a strategy. “My fear is the conflict isn’t going
to end anytime soon. We’re not even getting a clear idea of what the end would look like.”
Moderator on the climate challenge: ‘I’ve seen what the industry is doing’
Jonathan Samuels has reported on climate-related disasters and on the Cop26 Climate Conference in Glasgow in 2021, so has first-hand knowledge of the challenges ahead. He said: “I went to Kiribati [in
Oceania], where people believe they’re climate refugees. You can see the sea level rising and saltwater getting into their fields. They’re struggling to grow crops. “Then I was at Cop26 where you
hear all the talk, but worry are we going to see action?” On the other hand, he said: “I’ve seen what the industry is doing. I
Samuels on location
‘My favourite destination is the departure lounge’
Samuels confesses to having “always had an interest in travel” and a love of flying. He said: “For many years, I was
was on the first 100% SAF flight with Virgin Atlantic from London to New York, which was fantastic, just like a normal flight. But, of course, there isn’t enough SAF. It’s about the industry saying, ‘We can do things. We’re prepared to invest, but we need government help’.”
a reporter travelling the world, reporting on breaking news. Since I’ve been presenting in the Sky News studio, I’ve not done as much travel for work, so I’ve started doing travel writing. I’m going to nicer places than I used to when it was all earthquakes and war zones. “I’ve always loved flying. My
favourite destination is the departure
lounge, regardless of where I’m going; just knowing you’re going somewhere new thrills me. I also have a fascination with vintage aircraft.” He describes his travel writing
as “more of a hobby, but great fun” saying: “I went on a trip with my son to Orkney recently. There was a new Loganair flight from London so I used that as an excuse. When I was a kid, we’d go every summer to a different Scottish island.” Samuels feels prepared for the
convention after speaking to fellow TV news reporter and presenter Chris Ship, who has moderated several recent conventions. He said: “Chris loved the
convention and found it very sociable. That is why everyone works in the industry, isn’t it?”
Jonathan Samuels
Samuels hopes the convention
will bring “a sense of everybody looking to the future together, when there are so many issues – the climate crisis, the geopolitical situation, the economy, the skills shortage, AI – that it can be too much to think about on your own”. He argued: “It’s important for
the industry to get together. Travel is such a dynamic industry, it’s good for people to take a breath, speak to their peers and get a sense of the industry’s direction of travel because when you’re working hard, sometimes
the bigger picture gets lost.” i Find out more about the convention at:
abta.com/events/the-travel-convention
travelweekly.co.uk
5 SEPTEMBER 2024
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