A leading wildlife conservation charity has warned that misleading weather forecasts on popular apps are discouraging thousands of visitors from travelling to outdoor attractions including Highland Wildlife Park.
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland says inaccurate impressions created by some weather apps can cost its sites significant visitor numbers, particularly during busy holiday periods.
The charity estimates that forecasts suggesting a full day of rain can reduce visitor numbers at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park by as much as 30 percent.
During school holidays that drop can mean around 2,000 fewer visitors in a single day.
RZSS says the financial impact can be substantial, with lost income reaching up to £40,000 in a day.
Ben Supple, Deputy Chief Executive of the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said the problem lies in how weather information is displayed rather than the forecasts themselves.
“Many people decide how they will spend their day based on the weather and a quick glance at their phone.
“Our concern is that many sites display a rain icon for the entire day even if wet weather is only forecast for a short period early in the morning or late at night.
“Unfortunately, this can create the misleading impression that the whole day will be wet and put people off visiting.”
He said the impact can be particularly noticeable during school holiday periods when visitor numbers are typically highest.
“During the school holidays this can reduce visitor numbers at Edinburgh Zoo and Highland Wildlife Park by 2,000 people and cost our charity up to £40,000 in a day, which is enough to feed all our penguins for more than a year.”
The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland is now calling for discussions with the Met Office, government and major weather app developers to improve how forecasts are presented to the public.
Possible changes suggested by the charity include separating weather icons for daytime and night time conditions, adding clearer summaries such as “showers early followed by brighter weather”, and indicating the expected number of dry hours in a day.
Supple said such changes could help people make better informed decisions when planning outdoor activities.
“We greatly value the Met Office’s expertise and want to work together to ensure the public has the information it needs to make quick but informed decisions about how to spend their time.
“Practical improvements could include splitting weather icons into day and night conditions, adding short summaries such as ‘showers early followed by brighter weather’, or indicators showing how many hours of dry weather are expected.
“This matters because every visitor to our zoos helps fund vital conservation work, including efforts to save Scotland’s wildcats.”
The campaign has also received backing from the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions.
Chief Executive Michael Golding said clear weather information is essential for attractions that rely heavily on visitor numbers.
“There is a clear link between the weather and people visiting zoos, wildlife parks and other outdoor attractions, so it is vital the public does not receive mixed messages.
“Accurate weather information is essential for decision making, particularly for families, older visitors and people with additional needs who often have to plan further ahead.
“This campaign is about helping charities like the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland do even more to protect wildlife and connect people with nature.”
