Misleading weather apps are costing a UK attraction up to £40,000 a day

The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland says some popular weather apps show a rain icon for whole days and that this can cut visitor numbers by around 30%, costing its zoos up to £40,000 in a single day; it has asked the Met Office, government and app developers to discuss clearer forecast displays.

The charity that runs Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park has raised concerns about how weather forecasts appear on popular apps and asked for discussions with the Met Office and app developers. It says many apps display a rain icon for an entire day even when rain is expected only briefly, and that a quick glance at such displays can discourage visits. The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS) reported research linking unfavourable forecasts to a roughly 30 per cent fall in visitor numbers. RZSS estimates that during busy periods this can mean about 2,000 fewer visitors and losses of up to £40,000 in a single day. What is reported: - RZSS says many widely used apps show a rain icon for the whole day even if wet weather is only expected briefly. - The charity reports this can reduce visits by about 30% across its sites and by around 2,000 visitors during school holidays. - RZSS estimates lost income can reach up to £40,000 in a day, which it noted would cover feeding its penguins for more than a year. - RZSS has asked for talks with the Met Office, government and major weather app developers to explore clearer ways to present forecasts. - The Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions supports the campaign, citing the link between weather information and attendance. - The Met Office said it provides a variety of forecast formats and looks forward to ongoing collaboration with the tourism sector. Summary: The RZSS reports that how some weather apps display rain can discourage visitors and cause substantial short-term income losses for outdoor attractions. Discussions have been requested with the Met Office, government and app developers to consider changes to forecast presentation; further steps are under discussion.