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 – of world events and current affairs – 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 over 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. But if he doesn’t, what are we going to see? 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 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.”
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.”
There are just four weeks left to register for the Convention on October 7-9.
‘You hear all the talk on climate, but will we see action’
Jonathan Samuels has reported on climate-related disasters around the world and on the COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow in 2021, so has first-hand knowledge of the challenges ahead.
He said: “I’ve covered climate a lot. I went to Kiribati [in Oceania] – low-lying islands two or three-hours’ flight from Fiji.”
People on Kiribati “believe they’re climate refugees”, he said, noting: “You can see sea level rising and saltwater getting into their fields. They’re struggling to grow crops, and people are getting diabetes because they have to import refined food.
“Then I was at COP26 where you hear all the talk, but worry are we going to see action. We’ve seen Western governments row back on their green agendas recently.”
On the other hand, he said: “I’ve seen what the industry is doing. I was on the first 100% SAF flight with Virgin Atlantic from London to New York, which was fantastic, just like a normal flight. I was surprised how dull it was. I was expecting to smell chip fat or something.
“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’. If the government rows back on these things what does that do for our children and our grandchildren’s future?”
‘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 a reporter traveling 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 year for our summer holiday to a different Scottish island.”
Samuels feels prepared for the Convention after speaking to fellow TV news reporter and presenter Chris Ship, who 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?”
The Travel Convention will be held on October 7-9, at the Costa Navarino resort, in the southern Peleponnese, Greece.
To register for The Travel Convention before it’s too late, visit: abta.com/events/the-travel-convention