Distribution · 5 min read · 12 October 2026
What is OCTO? The open standard for tour and activity connectivity
A plain explanation of OCTO, the open API specification that connects tour and activity booking systems with resellers and marketplaces.
The problem OCTO solves
Tour operators sell through many channels: their own website, travel agents, online marketplaces. Each connection used to need its own custom integration, which was slow and expensive to build and keep running.
What OCTO is
OCTO (Open Connectivity for Tours, Activities and Attractions) is an open API specification for exchanging products, availability and bookings between booking systems and resellers. It is maintained openly at octo.travel, so any system can implement it.
What it means for an operator
If your booking system supports OCTO, connecting to a reseller that also supports it is much simpler. Availability stays in sync, so a booking on one channel updates seats everywhere and you avoid overbooking.
What to check before connecting
Not every channel supports every part of the specification. Check how rates, cancellations and traveller details are handled, and test with a single product first.
OCTO in Tourtify
Tourtify's channel manager connects to platforms that support OCTO, alongside resellers and agents booking at their own rates and a public API for your own systems.