Chester Zoo leads summit to change weather app displays driving visitor losses

Chester Zoo is hosting a summit to address weather apps that it says misrepresent rain forecasts and deter visitors from UK attractions.

• Chester Zoo convened the summit with the Met Office, government officials, and 16 major UK attractions including Bletchley Park and Go Ape.
• Dom Strange, the zoo’s chief operating officer, said a single rain icon can deter visitors and called for a move to a four-slot, six-hour forecast.
• A survey by the zoo and tourism consultancy Navigate found more than 60% of attractions reported visitor numbers dropping by more than 40% after a poorly displayed forecast.
• The summit, chaired by Visit Britain board member Nigel Wilkinson, includes around 30 delegates from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Public Weather Service.