WhatsApp Integration Setup Guide
Connect your WhatsApp Business number to TourRova in 15 minutes. Each tenant connects their own Meta Developer account — you control your own WhatsApp Business number.
How It Works
TourRova uses the WhatsApp Cloud API (official Meta API) — not third-party tools. Each TourRova account connects its own WhatsApp Business phone number. This means:
- You pay Meta directly for messages — TourRova charges nothing extra
- 1,000 free conversations per month per business number
- Messages come from your own WhatsApp Business number (not TourRova's)
- Full compliance with Meta's Terms of Service
Requirements
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Facebook Account | A personal Facebook account to create a Meta Developer account |
| Meta Business Account | Free — create at business.facebook.com |
| Phone Number | A mobile or landline number not already registered with WhatsApp |
| TourRova Plan | Professional or Enterprise plan (WhatsApp requires paid plan) |
Step 1 — Create a Meta Developer App
- Go to developers.facebook.com and click My Apps → Create App
- Select app type: Business
- Enter app name (e.g. "YourAgency WhatsApp") and your email
- Select your Meta Business Account (or create one at business.facebook.com first)
- Click Create App
Step 2 — Add WhatsApp Product
- In your new app dashboard, click Add Product
- Find WhatsApp and click Set Up
- You'll be taken to the WhatsApp setup page
- Under Step 1 on that page, add your business phone number
- Verify the number via SMS or voice call
Step 3 — Get Your API Credentials
In your Meta App → WhatsApp → API Setup:
- Copy the Phone Number ID (numeric, e.g. 123456789012345) — this is NOT your phone number
- Click Generate Token to create a permanent System User access token (recommended) OR use the temporary token for testing
- Copy the Access Token (long string starting with EAAx...)
For a permanent token (recommended for production):
- Go to business.facebook.com → Settings → System Users
- Create a System User with Admin role
- Add your WhatsApp App and generate a token with whatsapp_business_messaging permission
- This token never expires
Step 4 — Configure the Webhook
In your Meta App → WhatsApp → Configuration → Webhook:
- Click Edit next to Webhook
- Set Callback URL to:
- Set Verify Token — create any secret string (e.g. "tourrova_wa_2026") — you'll enter this same string in TourRova
- Click Verify and Save
- Under Webhook Fields, subscribe to: messages
Step 5 — Enter Credentials in TourRova
In TourRova, go to Settings → WhatsApp Setup:
| Field | Where to find it |
|---|---|
| Access Token | Meta App → WhatsApp → API Setup → Token (EAAx...) |
| Phone Number ID | Meta App → WhatsApp → API Setup → Phone Number ID (numbers only) |
| Verify Token | The same string you entered in Meta webhook settings |
| Display Number | Your actual phone number (for display only) |
| Business Name | Your WhatsApp Business display name |
Click Save & Connect.
Step 6 — Test the Connection
On the WhatsApp Setup page, click Send Test Message. Enter any phone number in international format (e.g. +94771234567) and click Send.
If the message is delivered — WhatsApp is connected! ✅
If it fails, check:
- Access Token is correct and not expired
- Phone Number ID is the numeric ID, not the phone number itself
- The recipient number has WhatsApp installed
- Your Meta App is in Live mode (not Development mode) for sending to numbers outside your test list
Using WhatsApp in TourRova
Once connected, WhatsApp is available throughout TourRova:
Booking Confirmation
From any booking view, click WhatsApp Customer in the Quick Actions panel. This sends a formatted booking confirmation message including booking reference, destination, dates, and a link to the customer portal.
Payment Reminders
The payment reminder cron job automatically sends WhatsApp reminders when payments are due (7 days before, 3 days before, day of, and overdue). No manual action needed.
Quote Sending
From the Send to Customer page on any quote, choose Send via WhatsApp. The customer receives a message with the proposal link they can view and accept online.
WhatsApp Inbox
Go to Communication → WhatsApp Inbox to see all incoming messages from customers. You can reply directly from TourRova.
WhatsApp Message Pricing
WhatsApp Cloud API uses a conversation-based pricing model. TourRova does NOT charge for WhatsApp messages — you pay Meta directly:
| Type | Free Tier | After Free Tier |
|---|---|---|
| Service conversations (customer-initiated) | 1,000/month free | ~$0.005/conversation |
| Business-initiated (booking confirmations) | Included in 1,000 | ~$0.02–0.08/conversation (varies by country) |
| Marketing messages | Not included in free | ~$0.05–0.15/conversation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my existing WhatsApp number?
Yes, but you must first migrate it. If your current WhatsApp Business number is registered with the regular WhatsApp app, you need to delete that account first, then register it via Meta Business API. This is a one-way process — you can't go back to the regular app with that number.
What if my access token expires?
Temporary tokens expire after 24 hours. We strongly recommend creating a permanent System User token in Meta Business Manager — it never expires. If your token expires, go to TourRova → Settings → WhatsApp Setup and update it.
Can each TourRova tenant have their own WhatsApp number?
Yes. TourRova is multi-tenant — each organisation connects their own Meta Developer App, their own phone number, and their own access token. Your customers receive messages from your number, not TourRova's.
What WhatsApp Business Plan do I need?
The free WhatsApp Cloud API is sufficient for most tour operators. The paid WhatsApp Business Platform subscription is only needed if you want verified green tick (official business account) or very high message volumes.