Guides for organisers

Straight answers to the questions organisers actually ask us, on collecting money, running departures, and getting bookings off spreadsheets and DMs.

• How do you turn Instagram DMs into actual bookings?

  Instagram gives an app 24 hours to reply to a DM before the window shuts. Here is how that one rule decides which enquiries become bookings.

• Should a tour operator use Linktree in their Instagram bio?

  A link-in-bio tool holds links. It does not know your dates, seats, prices or payments. Here is the tap count that costs you the booking.

• What is WhatsApp Business API, and does a tour operator need it?

  What the Business Platform is, what Meta charges per message, and why almost all of a small operator's WhatsApp traffic is free. Checked 10 Sep 2026.

• Which payment gateway should an Indian tour operator use?

  What Razorpay, PayU, Cashfree and Instamojo actually cost on a ₹2,000 booking, with GST added, plus TCS on foreign packages.

• How do you collect UPI payments for events without a gateway?

  Take UPI on your own ID or QR, keep the whole ticket price, and verify each payment with a checklist instead of a glance at a screenshot.

• How much deposit should you take, and how do you collect the balance?

  Size a trip deposit from your own non-refundable costs, run a day-by-day balance timeline, and see what splitting one payment in two actually costs.