Overview
- Chester Zoo is leading a coordinated campaign backed by over 80 attractions to curb misleading all-day rain icons that they say deter last‑minute visits.
- Attractions report attendance can fall by around 30% after an unfavourable icon, with Chester Zoo estimating up to £137,000 lost on a busy bank holiday and RZSS citing up to £40,000 in a day.
- The group stresses the issue is presentation rather than forecast accuracy, pointing to third‑party apps that may show brief or overnight rain as a full‑day symbol.
- Proposals include separate daytime and overnight icons, short written summaries such as “showers early, brighter later,” and simple indicators showing expected dry hours.
- The Met Office has acknowledged the letter and says it will develop an engagement plan with the tourism sector, while attractions seek a roundtable with government and major app developers.