Rezdy and FareHarbor are both solid booking systems for tour operators. Rezdy offers more flexibility with pricing tiers and works well for small to mid-sized operators. FareHarbor is commission-free but charges payment processing fees, and integrates tightly with major OTAs.

Rezdy suits operators who want control over pricing and distribution. FareHarbor suits operators prioritising OTA integration and simple setup. Both integrate with websites — your choice depends on whether you prioritise flexibility (Rezdy) or OTA-first distribution (FareHarbor).

BookingBoss is another Australian option worth considering for local operators. All three can be integrated into a professional website for direct bookings.

More bookings come from better visibility and higher conversion. Local SEO helps you appear when travellers search for experiences in your area. A properly optimised Google Business Profile can get you into the Map Pack. Professional photography shows the actual experience.

Your website needs to load fast, work on mobile, and integrate your booking system without friction. Reviews on Google and OTAs like Viator build trust with potential guests.

OTAs like Viator bring reach, but local SEO and direct booking websites keep your full margin. Build both channels.

Focus on local SEO — rank for searches like "Blue Mountains tours" or "Sydney harbour cruises" rather than competing nationally. Optimise your Google Business Profile with categories, photos, posts, and review requests. This gets you into the Map Pack where bookings happen.

Professional photography and video convert browsers into bookers. Authentic images showing real experiences outperform stock photos on both your website and OTA listings. Video works especially well on homepages and social media.

Build an email list from past guests and send occasional updates about new tours or seasonal offerings. Reviews are marketing — follow up after tours with a simple request for Google or Viator reviews.

Use Viator and GetYourGuide for reach, but invest in your own website and SEO to build direct bookings over time.

GetYourGuide, Klook, Airbnb Experiences, and TripAdvisor are the main Viator alternatives. GetYourGuide has strong European and Asian reach. Klook dominates in Asia-Pacific. Airbnb Experiences works well for unique, small-group tours. TripAdvisor drives traffic but takes commission on bookings.

All charge similar commission rates (20–30%). The real alternative to Viator isn't another OTA — it's building your own direct booking website and ranking locally via SEO and Google Business Profile optimisation.

Use OTAs for reach while building direct channels. Over time, reduce dependency by capturing email addresses, requesting Google reviews, and ranking for local search terms. Your OTA strategy should support your direct booking growth, not replace it.

Viator uses a Quality Score to rank listings. Factors include conversion rate, review velocity, photo quality, booking lead times, and listing completeness. Viator publicly states these affect listing visibility.

Professional photography affects how listings are perceived. Reviews contribute to Quality Score. Clear descriptions, accurate pricing, and complete listing information are all Quality Score factors.

Keep availability updated through your booking system (Rezdy or FareHarbor). Regular listing optimisation addresses factors Viator uses to calculate Quality Score.