From Shore to Screen: Building a Custom Travel Portal

About the Client/Project

Location: Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar, India
Project Duration: 12 Weeks
Industry: Travel
Team Size: 8
Work Type: Design, Development, Migration

Go2Andaman - Navigating seamless travel experiences for users across andaman islands

Go2Andaman is the ultimate travel companion for exploring the Andaman Islands, offering everything from ferry bookings to curated experiences and travel guides. As a one-stop destination for visitors, Go2Andaman provides essential travel services, inspiring blogs, and comprehensive information on places to visit, making every traveler’s journey hassle-free and memorable.

Website URL : www.go2andaman.com

Problem Statement and Solution

Problem Statement

Go2Andaman’s previous website struggled to meet the expectations of its growing user base:

Lack of Brand Reflection: The ferry booking system was outdated and lacked real-time functionality, leading to frustration for travelers.
Inconsistent User Experience: Navigation across the site was cluttered, and important features like destination guides and experience bookings were hard to find.
Outdated Design: The website’s aesthetic didn’t reflect the vibrancy and allure of the Andaman Islands.
Content Overload: While the platform had rich information, it wasn’t presented in a user-friendly way, overwhelming users instead of guiding them.
Scalability Issues: The backend lacked the flexibility to support future expansions, new features, and high traffic.

Solution

Our solution was to create a fully customized WordPress platform that would: Key highlights included:

Custom API Integrations
- Seamlessly integrate ferry bookings with real-time availability.
User Centric Design
- Showcase Andaman’s attractions, accommodations, and activities with an intuitive layout.
Brand Language Engagement
- Highlight the brand’s unique personality through an engaging and visually appealing design.
Content Restructuring
- Organize content effectively with structured navigation and a powerful search function.
Scalable Backend
- Build a robust backend to handle growth and enhance the user experience.

Approach we took

Navigating from Discovery to Booking

The main aim of the revamp was to address both user and business needs, by delivering a WordPress platform that simplifies travel planning while capturing the brand’s spirit. The revamped website was not just a tool—but an experience, making travel to the Andamans seamless and memorable.

The Approach

Discovery Phase
- Conducted stakeholder interviews to understand the client’s goals and their users’ pain points.
- Analyzed competitor platforms to identify gaps and opportunities for differentiation.
- Crafted user personas to ensure the design and features aligned with target audiences.
Design Strategy
- Developed a fresh visual identity inspired by the Andaman Islands, incorporating vibrant colors, clean layouts, and striking imagery.
- Designed custom layouts for ferry bookings, destination listings, and blog sections to create a seamless user journey.
- Focused on mobile-first design, optimizing for travelers accessing the site on the go.
Custom WordPress Development
- Built a custom ferry booking module with real-time availability, multiple payment gateways, and an intuitive booking process.
- Developed dynamic listing templates for destinations, activities, and accommodations, allowing users to filter based on preferences.
- Integrated a blog module optimized for storytelling, complete with categories, tags, and related content suggestions.
- Enhanced site performance with caching, lazy loading, and optimized media files to ensure fast load times.
- Used a modular, scalable approach with WordPress custom post types and taxonomies to handle future content and feature expansions.
Content Revamp
- Collaborated with Go2Andaman’s team to rewrite and structure content for clarity and engagement.
- Organized the content into logical categories for easy navigation, including places to visit, activities, and travel tips.
Testing and Optimization
- Conducted rigorous testing across devices to ensure responsiveness and functionality.
- Implemented SEO best practices to improve visibility on search engines.

The Go2Andaman website now serves as a digital extension of the magical Andaman Islands, blending aesthetics, functionality, and performance.

Team Size and Composition

Developers

2

Designers

1

Project Manager

1

Webmaster

1

DevOps

1

Business

2

Features / UI Highlights

Result and Metrics

Quantitative

50% increase in bookings through the optimized ferry booking system.There was a 35% boost in site traffic, with a significant rise in organic traffic due to improved SEO. 40% reduction in bounce rate, thanks to the intuitive navigation and engaging content presentation and 80% faster page load times, enhancing user experience across devices.

Qualitative

A vibrant, easy-to-navigate website that reflects the beauty of the Andaman Islands. An improved user trust and satisfaction, leading to repeat visitors and higher engagement and positive feedback from travelers who found the site easier to use for planning their trips.

Testimonial

“The new website has transformed how travelers interact with our platform. It’s not just functional but also visually captivating—exactly what we wanted to showcase the Andaman experience!”