Launched in 2010 as a simple website to help tour agents search and compare package tours, ItTour has evolved into the country’s premier comprehensive travel aggregator. It now provides access to tours from 67 operators across 78 countries.

The Itera Research team has partnered with ItTour for 15 years, continually enhancing the platform with new databases and features to meet growing demands.

The Challenge

ItTour started in 2010 as a small website that let travel agents compare tour packages. Growth came fast. Operators wanted in. Agents needed real-time data. And by the time ItTour reached national scale, the system was under heavy strain.

Each of the 67 connected tour operators used different APIs or no integration options at all. Thousands of agents were sending queries simultaneously, causing slowdowns and mismatched data. The platform couldn’t easily scale or stay consistent.

After 15 years of partnership, Itera Research was once again brought in – this time to rebuild ItTour as a unified, high-performance travel aggregation engine.

How We Solved It

1. One API Standard for 67 Operators

Every operator had its own way of sharing data. Itera built a single SOAP-based API layer that pulled structured data from all operator systems and converted it into one unified format.
To open the platform for partners, we added a RESTful API, making ItTour a scalable B2B hub rather than a closed system.

2. Filling the Gaps with Smart Data Collection

Some operators had no API at all. To keep them connected, Itera built bots that navigated websites like real users, capturing tour details automatically.
This allowed the platform to display up-to-date results from every source, even those without technical integration.

3. Real-Time Search That Actually Stays Real-Time

With over 7,500 agents using the system, ItTour needed speed and accuracy.
We re-engineered its infrastructure using Redis caching, sharding, and distributed servers. Queries were balanced across specialized servers, cutting latency and keeping search performance stable under peak loads.

4. Reliable Payments Inside the Platform

Itera integrated five payment gateways, including Privat24 , so agents could search, book, and pay without leaving the ItTour ecosystem.
Transactions became instant, secure, and trackable, improving both agent experience and operational transparency.

5. Expanding Reach with Embedded Widgets

To help agencies extend ItTour’s reach, we built external widgets, search boxes, “hot tours,” and recommendation blocks, that could be embedded on agency websites.

This turned ItTour into both a service and a distribution network.

What Changed

• Unified 67 tour operator integrations under one system
  
• Real-time access to 1.5 billion tours across 78 countries
  
• 7,500 agents and 10,675 daily users supported simultaneously
  
• 30% faster search performance from caching and sharding
  
• 5 payment systems integrated for seamless in-platform transactions

ItTour is now the backbone of the travel industry in its region, a reliable aggregator trusted by thousands of agencies every day.

“What started as a comparison tool became the core infrastructure of an entire market, built for growth, not guesswork.”

Tools & Technologies

• PHP
• MySQL
• Redis
• Memcached
• SOAP
• Nagios
• Sharding
• REST
• JavaScript
• jQuery
• Node.js
• JSON
• Orca
• Replication
• AJAX
• Bootstrap
• Apache
• Nginx
• FPM (FastCGI Process Manager)
• Big Data

The Bigger Picture

This project reflects what Itera does best – transforming complex, fragmented ecosystems into unified systems that scale. ItTour’s evolution shows how long-term partnerships and practical engineering can create real economic impact.

Since its launch, ItTour has evolved from a niche tool into a comprehensive platform for travel agents. Originally serving a limited number of operators, it now provides access to 1.5 billion tours from over 67 operators in 78 countries. The platform’s advanced search capabilities and integration with multiple payment systems have streamlined operations, making it easier for agents to manage bookings and transactions. The use of SOAP and RestFull APIs ensures that the data is consistently accurate and up-to-date, which enhances the reliability of the platform and reduces administrative overhead for agents.

ItTour’s sophisticated infrastructure, including distributed servers and advanced load balancing, has ensured that the platform can handle a large and growing user base. By supporting 7,500 agents and 10,675 users with high performance and stability, ItTour has become a critical asset for travel agencies, driving business growth and improving operational efficiency.