Travel bookings have become easier with online platforms, but finding interesting things to do at a destination can still be difficult. Thrillark, founded by Fazil Parakkat, Co-Founder & CEO, and Firoz Musthafa, Co-Founder & COO, aims to make travel experiences easier to discover and book.
The company describes itself as an in-destination platform for tours, activities and local experiences, connecting travellers with different experiences at their destination.
Finding a gap in travel
Fazil started working in the travel industry in Dubai in 2008. Firoz, who has an IT background, joined him later.
While handling travel services, they noticed that many tour packages focused mainly on flights, hotels and popular tourist attractions. Travellers often had limited flexibility to choose other activities.
They also found that many visitors wanted to experience local food, culture and activities rather than only visit famous tourist spots.
This led them to think about creating a platform focused specifically on experiences.
Building Thrillark
The founders began working on the idea in 2018. Their goal was to make finding and booking activities as simple as booking a movie ticket.
They built a platform where travellers could search for activities based on their interests and book them directly. The founders also learned that many travellers make plans at the last minute, making quick and easy booking an important part of the platform.
Growing beyond Dubai
Thrillark started seeing strong demand as more travellers began using the platform. The company has since expanded its presence across international destinations.
According to Thrillark, the platform has served more than 184,000 guests and offers tours, attractions and local experiences across destinations including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok and Riyadh.
The company has also continued expanding its partnerships with attractions and experience providers in different markets.
More than recommendations
The founders believe AI tools such as ChatGPT can help travellers discover places and activities. However, they see a difference between getting a recommendation and actually booking an experience.
Thrillark brings discovery and booking together, allowing travellers to find an activity, check the details and make a booking through the same platform.
They also believe real-world experiences will remain important even as digital technology and AI continue to grow.
What comes next
Thrillark is working towards making more local and unique experiences available to travellers. The company is also developing Thrillark Originals, a segment focused on experiences that may not be easily found through traditional travel platforms.
The idea is to give travellers a better look at an experience before they book it, including through video-based content.
For Fazil and Firoz, the larger goal remains simple, to make it easier for travellers to discover, choose and experience more of what a destination has to offer.
