Brits like to complain about the weather. They like talking about anything connected to the weather.
This week there have been complaints about the weather from the tourism and hospitality industry.
Approximately 80 attractions complained that the Internet and mobile-phone apps’ weather reports contain a storm of “misleading rain icons (that) cost venues up to £137,000 ($183,000) a day,” according to the BBC.
Guests and visitors turn on their phones over their morning coffees, espy a litany of rain, showers, torrents and drizzle emojis and icons signifying other forms of precipitation and quite sensibly postpone their adventures.
Attractions say that in this period of economic concern, guests are even more cautious to make sure the money they spend guarantees an enjoyable day, and that no doubt includes sunshine.
Perhaps hotels do well in harsh weather, or if guests believe such weather is imminent?
There is plenty to do in a hotel. They are warm, unique, special, welcoming places full of good food, gyms and lounges.
The attractions, including Chester Zoo and Blackpool Pier, Lancashire, claim that on numerous occasions when bad weather is hinted at, the day rolls out as a beautiful one.
As ukulele player and acting star George Formby, a Lancashire lad himself, would say, “It’s turned out nice again!”
When I lived in the U.S. and traveled on occasion to the Caribbean, every weather app for the region in the summer months inevitably displayed thunderstorm icons for every single day, when the reality was — and is — that often there will only be a short downpour in the late afternoon.
Weather news generates vast amounts of online clicks, which are income-generating.
It is profitable to be morose about the weather, unless, of course, you are an attraction with a great deal of open space.
The BBC added, “attractions claim ‘spontaneous visits’ are highly weather dependent and cite research which suggests about 70% of people check forecasts before heading out.”
The BBC itself has suggested change is forthcoming for its weather forecasting, as has the Meteorological Office — the speed of improvement will probably transpire as a “haar,” a Scottish term for mist coming off the sea, rather a more violent “heavenshard” shower, to use a dialectal word for rain from my home county of Kent.
The Met Office released a statement that does not make much of anything any clearer.
It said: “We are seeking to develop an engagement plan with the tourism sector to integrate this with our existing plans to improve weather services for tourism and more generally.”
Until those improvements are made, maybe, just to be sure, I’ll stay at home.
On my bookshelf I do have a copy of Alan Connor’s 2024 book, “188 words for rain: A delightfully damp tour of the British Isles, led by natural forces.”
The book’s imprint? BBC Books!
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