Should You Sell Your Multi-Day Tours on OTAs? (Pros, Cons & Strategy)

If you’ve ever debated whether to list your tours on Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) and other reseller platforms but still can’t decide...

We get you.

For many operators, deciding whether or not to sell their multi-day tours on an OTA can feel like both an opportunity and a risk. On one hand, it’s a chance to reach more travelers. On the other hand, it can mean losing control or paying commissions.

And let’s not even start on the tech side of managing multiple platforms. Who has time for that?

But here’s the truth: OTAs can be powerful distribution partners when approached strategically. With the right technology, they can quickly become one of the most efficient ways to scale your business.

At the end of the day, the choice is yours. But let’s settle the debate once and for all, shall we?

The Case for Selling Multi-Day Tours on OTAs: Reach You Can’t Ignore

The biggest benefit of OTAs is exposure.

Platforms such as GetYourGuide, Tripadvisor, and Klook already attract millions of visitors every month. For instance, GetYourGuide can have months where it sees over 40+ million visits a month.

While a traveler may not know your multi-day tours even exist, putting them on an OTA means can get your tours in front of them. And, these are travelers who are already in the mindset to book something, with a name that's already familiar to them.

Therefore, by listing your tours on these platforms, you instantly put your brand in front of a global audience that, otherwise, would likely take years (and a hefty marketing budget) for you to reach on your own.

Other advantages include:

• Built-in trust through verified reviews and a familiar interface

• A seamless, mobile-first booking process

• Powerful marketing reach backed by SEO and paid campaigns (which tour operators can do themselves, but likely not at the same level as an OTA, which has years of domain authority under its belt).

  
  

For small and mid-sized operators, visibility like this can turn those off-peak weeks into fully booked seasons. And, again, with the right tech, it can be done with just a few clicks. More on that in a bit.

The Flip Side: Control, Commission, and Complexity

The concerns multi-day tour operators have with OTAs

Still, OTAs aren’t without challenges. In fact, you might be reading this because you've heard nothing but complaints from other operators regarding their relationships with OTAs. This could be why you're hesitant to list your own tours on these platforms.

Common concerns include:

• Commission fees that can reduce your profit margin

• Less control over how your brand is represented or reviewed

• Different policies when it comes to cancellations and other trip regulations, which could contradict with your own

• Repetitive manual uploads that eat up time

• Lack of visibility into their regulations regarding tours

And, for multi-day tours, these issues are amplified. Complex itineraries, variable pricing, and frequent updates make it extremely time-consuming and difficult to manage listings manually. And, the more platforms you join, the harder it gets to keep everything consistent and accurate. Just one outdated listing can create chaos for your operations team.

Why OTAs are worth it, anyway

But here’s the thing: none of these challenges should be deal-breakers once you add some context:

• Commission fees aren’t just a cost, they’re a marketing investment. OTAs like GetYourGuide bring global visibility, handle payments, and reach travelers you might never attract otherwise. You only pay when you get a confirmed booking, making it a performance-based expense rather than a fixed one.

• Loss of control over your brand can be mitigated by optimizing your listings with high-quality images, strong descriptions, and responsive communication, which all help your business stand out. Remember, guests still see your name, reviews, and service quality. The OTA is just the storefront; you control the experience once the traveler arrives.

• Different cancellation and policy rules can be frustrating, especially when they don’t align with your own. But transparency is key here. Clearly outline your policies in your descriptions and confirmations, and make sure your internal team knows how to handle OTA-specific bookings. In most cases, customers value flexibility, and adapting slightly can actually boost your conversion rate.

• Manual uploads and updates are avoidable today. Integrated software like Tour Amigo connects your back office directly to OTA channels, so your rates, availability, and itineraries stay synced automatically. That means fewer admin headaches and less risk of mismatched listings.

• Lack of visibility into OTA regulations is often just a matter of staying informed. Most platforms now provide detailed supplier portals, help centers, and account managers to explain how policies and algorithms work. Take the time to review updates or new rules as they’re announced - it’s a small habit that can prevent major issues down the road.

  
  

In short: OTAs can introduce complexity, but with the right tools and strategy, they can also become one of your most powerful distribution channels (and, best friend!). It’s not about having to choose between control and exposure; it’s about learning how to have both.

Are Your (Multi-Day) Tours Meant for OTAS?: A Checklist

Before you dive into listings on GetYourGuide, or other platforms, it’s smart to pause and evaluate your readiness. Selling through OTAs can open doors to new audiences, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. The key is understanding how well your business model, operations, brand strategy, and tech stack align with the way OTAs work.

For example, a tour operator with steady direct bookings may not need OTAs, but they can still be a valuable tool to boost visibility during slower seasons. Likewise, if you’re already managing multiple listings manually, scaling across more platforms could introduce unnecessary chaos, unless you have automation in place to handle it.

The checklist below breaks down what to consider before you make the leap: from your pricing structure and brand goals to your data management and tech capabilities. It’s not about saying yes or no to OTAs, but about knowing when and how they can best serve your growth strategy.

And, of course, if you're looking to distribute multi-day tours, it's vital to find an OTA partner that has these capabilities.

What About the Actual Distribution?: Having the Right Tech

Even if you're keen to start distributing your multi-day tours on OTA platforms, you may not have done so because of the overwhelming task of manually uploading your tours on those sites.

The good news? That’s where connected distribution changes everything.

Instead of logging into multiple OTAs and making the same edits over and over, systems like Tour Amigo let you manage all your content, pricing, and availability from one place.

With smart API connectivity, updates sync automatically to your connected channels — including GetYourGuide — so you’re always showing the right tours at the right time.

This automation not only saves time but also protects your control. You’re still the source of truth - you just no longer have to push that truth manually to every partner site. If your goal is to grow, reach new markets, and streamline your workflow, the answer is a resounding yes.

Why Now is the Time to Distribute Your Multi-Day Tours with Platforms Like Get Your Guide

Flights did it first. Hotels followed. Day tours perfected it. Now, the multi-day sector is finally catching up - and that shift is accelerating fast.

OTAs aren’t the enemy of direct bookings - they’re a powerful distribution channel that can amplify your reach when used strategically. The key is to treat them as partners, not competitors. When operators maintain control over pricing, content, and guest experience, OTAs simply become the gateway to a wider audience, not a threat to brand identity.

With the right tech stack, that balance is easier than ever. A connected platform like Tour Amigo eliminates the manual chaos of updates and syncs your listings across channels with complete accuracy and control.

Because your tours deserve to be seen everywhere travelers are looking.

And now, thanks to the Tour Amigo x GetYourGuide distribution partnership, multi-day operators can instantly connect to the world’s largest experience marketplace, reaching millions of new travelers while keeping full ownership of their content and data.

Not only this, but Tour Amigo offers distribution capabilities with dozens of other partners. All you need to do is set up your tours once. Then, form a sales agreement each OTA or distribution partner you wish to work with, turn on the distribution and your tours will begin distributing to global selling channels.

Fill out the form below to learn more:

*In some cases, the OTA has criteria that they'll need to approve before connecting your tours.