Destination UP

What Destination UP does

Destination UP (legal name: Office de Tourisme Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard) is the official Destination Management Organization (DMO) for the Uzès Pont du Gard territory in the Gard department of Occitanie, France. It serves individual tourists, tour groups, corporate clients (CSE), and school groups seeking cultural heritage, nature, gastronomy, outdoor activities, and accessible tourism experiences. The organization's asset base is built on three anchor sites: the Pont du Gard Roman aqueduct (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985), the medieval city of Uzès (recognized as the 7th most welcoming city in the world), and the Gorges du Gardon (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve since 1982, spanning 29 kilometers and hosting 531 plant varieties, 35 fish species, and 151 bird species).

The core product is a multi-language (French, English, Dutch, German, Italian, Spanish) destination website built on a 'continuous evolution' architecture with IRIS Interactive, replacing full redesigns with twice-yearly iterative updates. The platform integrates an eco-mode feature (using ADEME's CO2 algorithm) that suppresses images and animations to reduce energy consumption, alongside the Lisio accessibility tool for customized navigation by visitors with disabilities. Complementary products include the Le Mag digital magazine, the Pass UP Essentiel tourist pass, downloadable accessibility guides, and ticketing services. Distribution is omnichannel: two physical tourist offices (Uzès headquarters and Remoulins), social media, email newsletter, print brochures, and partner networks including the Eco-Actors sustainable tourism network and an Accessible Tourism partner network.

The business model is a hybrid public-DMO model. Tourist office reception and information services are free to visitors. Monetization flows through attraction-level admission fees (e.g., Pont du Gard museum 8–15€ adult, 6–13€ reduced, guided tours 6€ for under 18; Jardin Médiéval d'Uzès 8€ adult), Pass UP Essentiel pass sales, third-party ticketing commissions, and likely public funding through local tourism tax and member-operator subscriptions. The organization holds multiple certifications: Green Destinations Silver (2025, GSTC-recognized), Quality Tourism, Tourism & Handicap, Grands Sites de France (2004), Accueil Vélo, Grands Sites d'Occitanie, and Ville d'Art et d'Histoire.

Name

Destination UP

Legal name

Office de Tourisme Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard

Website

https://uzes-pontdugard.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2018

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Destination UP (Office de Tourisme Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard) is the public destination management organization for the Uzès Pont du Gard territory in Occitanie, France. It serves individual tourists, groups, and corporate clients through a multi-language eco-designed website, two physical tourist offices, the Pass UP Essentiel, and partner networks anchored by UNESCO World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve sites.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Regional Destination Management & Tourism Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (712190), Historical Sites (71212)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), UNESCO & Protected Landmark Sites (THAJACAI)

Keywords

• Destination marketing organization
• Tourism information services
• Heritage site promotion
• Sustainable tourism services
• Accessible travel services

Headquarters

HQ city

Uzès

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Destination UP is the operating brand of the public Office de Tourisme Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard, providing visitor information, destination marketing, event coordination, and ticketing for the Uzès Pont du Gard region in Occitanie, France. It operates a multilingual eco-designed destination website, two physical tourist offices (Uzès and Remoulins), the Le Pass UP Essentiel tourist pass, accessibility services under the Tourisme & Handicap label, and digital content via Le Mag'. It markets the region's three flagship assets: the Pont du Gard (UNESCO World Heritage), the medieval city of Uzès (Ville d'Art et d'Histoire), and the Gorges du Gardon (UNESCO Biosphere Reserve).

Product overview

Destination Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard operates as a regional tourism destination management platform offering a comprehensive website with multiple integrated services. The core offering includes the main tourism information portal (https://www.uzes-pontdugard.com/), supplemented by Le Mag digital magazine content platform, and Le Pass UP Essentiel discount pass. The destination is known for its UNESCO World Heritage site (Pont du Gard), medieval city of Uzès, and Gorges du Gardon biosphere reserve. Accessibility services include Lisio navigation tool and downloadable accessibility guides for key towns.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Le Mag': The destination's digital magazine featuring travel inspiration, tips, and local discoveries.
• Pass UP Essentiel

Products and services

• Destination Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard Tourist Portal Official destination information portal for the Office de Tourisme Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard, providing visitors with comprehensive, multilingual information about attractions, accommodations, restaurants, activities, events, ticketing and accessibility across the Uzès Pont du Gard territory.
• Le Pass UP Essentiel A regional tourist pass offering discounted admission and special offers at partner sites and experiences throughout the Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard territory.
• Tourist Office Visitor Services (Uzès and Remoulins) Face-to-face tourist reception, information services, ticketing and on-site visitor support delivered at two physical tourist offices in Uzès (year-round, seasonal hours) and Remoulins (April–October).
• Group, CSE, Corporate and School Group Services Dedicated sales and coordination service for organised groups: tour operators, corporate social/economic committees (CSE), corporate events, and school/educational groups. Provides customised itineraries, guided tours and on-the-ground coordination.

Quantifiable outcome

• 442g CO2 saved through eco-mode feature
• +1 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Green Destinations FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025International certification foundation for sustainable tourism. Certified Destination Pays d'Uzès Pont du Gard at silver level in 2025, recognized by Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
• IRIS InteractivecoreTechnology or IntegrationDigital agency partner responsible for website development and maintenance. Developed the continuous evolution concept for the destination website and implements twice-yearly updates with new features and improvements.
• UNESCOcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUnited Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Designated Pont du Gard as World Heritage Site (1985) and Gorges du Gardon as Biosphere Reserve.
• Syndicat Mixte des Gorges du GardoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal government body managing the Gorges du Gardon protected area. Provides guided tours, educational programs, and biodiversity information for visitors.
• EPCC Pont du Gard (Etablissement Public de Cooperation Culturelle)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPublic cultural cooperation establishment managing the Pont du Gard site, museum, and related visitor services.
• Eco-Actors Network (Gorges du Gardon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork of 12+ local eco-certified businesses including 2 Ô-Outdoor, Domaine de Malaïgue, Trek Evasion, Canoë Le Tourbillon, Puravida, and others committed to sustainable practices.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Office de Tourisme de Carcassonne: Manages the UNESCO-listed medieval citadel of Carcassonne. Same semi-public DMO structure, focused on heritage tourism, with comparable mix of paid attractions, walking tours, and group/educational services.
• Office de Tourisme d'Aix-en-Provence: Major Provençal DMO operating in a similar heritage and gastronomy tourism space. Uses the same French national certifications (Qualité Tourisme, Tourisme & Handicap) and operates a comparable destination pass and group services model.
• Office de Tourisme de Montpellier: Regional DMO in Occitanie promoting the Montpellier metropolitan area. Comparable public-DMO structure with digital platform, city pass, and group/event services, operating in the same regional tourism ecosystem.
• Office de Tourisme de Nîmes: Neighboring French DMO in the Gard department, also a member of the Grands Sites d'Occitanie network. Promotes UNESCO-listed Roman heritage (Arena, Maison Carrée) using a comparable model of physical offices, digital portal, and accessibility/sustainability certifications.
• Office de Tourisme d'Avignon: Provençal DMO responsible for UNESCO-listed Papal Palace and surrounding area. Operates a similar destination management model with cultural focus, multi-language services, and an annual flagship event (Festival d'Avignon).

Broad incumbents

• Atout France: National French tourism development agency that issues the Qualité Tourisme and Tourisme & Handicap certifications held by Destination UP. Functions as an overarching regulator and promoter of French tourism rather than a direct competitor.
• Comité Régional du Tourisme Occitanie (CRT Occitanie): Regional tourism committee overseeing the same Occitanie region as Destination UP. Provides broader destination marketing, strategy, and data services that encompass but extend beyond the Uzès territory.
• ADT Gard Tourisme: Department-level tourism agency for the Gard, directly above Destination UP's territorial scope. Coordinates broader Gard-wide marketing and works with both Uzès Pont du Gard and other local DMOs.

Emerging players

• EPCC Pont du Gard: Public cultural cooperation establishment operating the Pont du Gard site, museum, and visitor services. A core partner of Destination UP but also a distinct entity with its own commercial ticketing and educational programming on the destination's flagship attraction.

Regional players

• Visit Provence: Regional tourism agency for Provence, geographically adjacent and partially overlapping with Uzès's market (the region sits at the Languedoc-Provence border). Comparable heritage and gastronomy positioning but primarily serving a different territory.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCo53kIGDUZzfVj3gVUCFcrg
• Facebookfacebook.com/destinationuzespontdugard
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/destination-pays-d'uzes-pont-du-gard
• Instagraminstagram.com/destinationuzespontdugard

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Destination UP