Office de Tourisme d'Arles

What Office de Tourisme d'Arles does

Office de Tourisme d'Arles is the official municipal destination marketing organization (DMO) for the city of Arles in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of southern France. Operating under the brand Arles Camargue Tourisme, the office serves as the primary visitor information, ticketing, and destination promotion entity for a territory encompassing the historic Arles center, the Camargue wetlands, and the Alpilles. It is a public entity owned by Ville d'Arles, funded through municipal budgets, tourism taxes, and potentially regional/national tourism development funds, with no private equity or venture capital involvement.

The organization's core product portfolio centers on the official tourism website arlestourisme.com, which provides comprehensive visitor information across accommodations, activities, dining, events, and itineraries. Supporting products include the Tickeasy online ticketing platform for monuments and events, an interactive Leaflet/OpenStreetMap-based map directory, downloadable PDF brochures, the Wivisites interactive heritage discovery app, and Parcours Sonores audio-guided walking tours along Via Rhôna. Physical service is delivered through two offices: the main headquarters at 9 Boulevard des Lices in Arles and a secondary Bureau d'Information Touristique in Salin de Giraud. Technology integrations include Matomo Cloud for analytics, hCaptcha for bot protection, and OpenStreetMap tile data. Event programming includes Les Rencontres d'Arles (50+ year international photography festival), Festival Arelate (Roman heritage festival), and Les Rendez-vous d'été summer programs, alongside MICE services through arlesevents.com.

Revenue is generated through three primary streams: public funding and municipal support from Ville d'Arles, ticket commissions via the Tickeasy platform, and brochure/guide sales including Pass Avantage (6-month monument pass), Pass Liberté (1-month monument pass), and the Carnet de Routo pilgrimage booklet. Customer segments span cultural/art tourism (primary), nature/outdoor tourism in Camargue (primary), family tourism, accessible tourism (Tourisme et Handicap label), student tourism, and group/MICE tourism. The office holds certifications including Qualité Tourisme, Accueil Vélo, and Station classée de tourisme, and operates within a broader cultural ecosystem anchored by UNESCO World Heritage designations, ENSP photography school, LUMA Arles creative campus, and partnerships with Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue and Provence Tourisme.

Name

Office de Tourisme d'Arles

Legal name

Office de Tourisme d'Arles

Website

https://arlestourisme.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Office de Tourisme d'Arles is the official municipal destination marketing organization for Arles, France, providing visitor information, ticketing, and event promotion for a UNESCO World Heritage destination encompassing the historic city and Camargue region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Tourism and Destination Marketing Services

NAICS

Convention and Visitors Bureaus (561591), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Inbound/Local Retail Travel Agencies (Destination Booking Offices) (THAKABAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Permitting, Reservations & Visitor Information Services (Passes, Booking, Visitor Centers) (THAAAGAD), Recreation & Activity Services (Hiking, Boating, Climbing, Fishing—Guided/Authorized) (THAAAGAF), Accessibility & Inclusion Services (ADA Access, Adaptive Programs, Multilingual Support) (THAAAGAJ), National Park & Protected Area Tours (THAJAIAA)

Keywords

• Destination marketing
• Tourist information services
• Cultural heritage tourism
• Visitor accommodation booking
• Monument ticketing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Arles

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

Revenue model

1. Public funding and municipal support: Government-funded destination marketing organization supported by Ville d'Arles and potentially regional tourism bodies
2. Ticket sales and booking commissions: Commission revenue from selling tickets to monuments, events, and attractions through their ticketing platform
3. Brochure and guide sales: Sale of maps, brochures, and guidebooks including Pass Avantage and Routo carnet de step

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

The Office de Tourisme d'Arles (also branded Arles Camargue Tourisme) is the official municipal destination marketing organization for Arles and the Camargue region. It provides comprehensive visitor information, monument and event ticketing, accommodation listings, dining guides, and curated event programming including Les Rencontres d'Arles (photography festival), Festival Arelate (Roman heritage festival), and Les Rendez-vous d'été (summer heritage activities). It also operates monument passes (Pass Avantage, Pass Liberté), audio-guided tours, mobile discovery apps, group and MICE services, and accessibility-certified visitor assistance for the territory.

Product overview

Office de Tourisme d'Arles operates as the official destination marketing organization for Arles and Camargue, offering a comprehensive portfolio of tourism services. The core offering is the official tourism website (arlestourisme.com) which serves as the primary digital portal for visitor information including attractions, accommodations, dining, events, and practical travel planning. The organization provides ticketing services for monuments and events through Tickeasy integration, manages seasonal event programs including Les Rencontres d'Arles (international photography festival), Festival Arelate (Roman heritage festival), and Les Rendez-vous d'été (summer heritage activities). Digital service features include Wivisites (interactive quiz-based city discovery), Parcours Sonores (audio-guided sound trails along Via Rhôna), and downloadable brochures/guides. The organization also provides accessibility services, group tourism services, convention services, and professional partner resources. The product portfolio functions as an integrated destination management system rather than a modular software platform.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Official Tourism Website (arlestourisme.com) Multilingual destination information portal covering accommodations, activities, dining, events, itineraries, and practical travel information for Arles, Camargue, and Alpilles. Targets individual travelers and tourism professionals planning a visit.
• Ticketing Services (Tickeasy platform) Self-service online ticket sales platform for monuments, museums, events, and attractions in Arles and the Camargue. Targets individual visitors and group organizers purchasing entry tickets.
• Pass Avantage 6-month subscription pass granting access to 6 monuments and all museums in Arles, with reduced rates for students. Targets repeat and longer-stay cultural visitors.
• Pass Liberté 1-month flexible pass granting access to 4 monuments and 2 museums in Arles. Targets short-stay visitors seeking a flexible cultural pass.
• Carnet de Routo Souvenir booklet sold at 5€ per carnet along the La Routo pilgrimage trail, with stamps collected at accommodations, tourist offices, and museums. Targets pilgrims and hikers on the GR69 transhumance route from Arles to Italy.
• Les Rencontres d'Arles (photography festival) Annual international photography festival held in Arles featuring exhibitions and installations throughout the city, drawing photography enthusiasts from around the world.
• Festival Arelate - Les Journées Romaines Annual Roman history festival featuring historical reenactments, demonstrations, and educational activities about ancient Roman life in Arles. Targets families, school groups, and history enthusiasts.
• Les Rendez-vous d'été Summer event program featuring historical reenactments and heritage activities in Arles. Targets summer visitors seeking immersive cultural experiences.
• Group Tourism Services Receptive tourism service providing customized visits and itineraries for organized groups in Arles and the Camargue. Targets tour operators, association groups, schools, and incentive trip organizers.
• Convention and Congress Services (Arles Events) MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and events) services for planners organizing professional events in Arles. Targets event agencies, corporate meeting planners, and conference organizers.
• Wivisites mobile application Interactive quiz-based mobile application for discovering Arles' heritage sites and cultural attractions, including a dedicated children's version. Targets families, school groups, and independent cultural visitors.
• Parcours Sonores (Sound Trails) Audio-guided walking tours along the Via Rhône and in Mas-Thibert, with 8+ narrated stops downloadable as MP3 files. Targets independent travelers and hikers seeking sound-based cultural interpretation.
• Downloadable Brochures and Guides Collection of downloadable PDF brochures including city plans, hiking circuits, cycling circuits, event programs, heritage guides, and themed itineraries. Targets independent travelers preparing visits and tourism professionals.
• Accessibility Services (Tourisme et Handicap) Curated accessibility services for visitors with motor, visual, auditory, or mental disabilities, including accessible monument information, adapted transport options, accessible restaurants, parking, and dedicated Tourisme et Handicap-labeled establishments. Targets visitors with specific accessibility requirements and their accompanying persons.

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ville d'ArlescoreOthersThe municipality of Arles is the primary backer of the tourism office, providing funding, facilities, and institutional support for destination marketing activities.
• ACCM (Arles Camargue Crau Montagnette)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe intercommunal authority manages the territory and supports tourism development, including artisan and craft promotion through the 'Ville et Métiers d'Art' network.
• Provence TourismemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerRegional tourism board promoting Provence as a destination, featuring Arles in marketing campaigns and distributing regional tourism materials.
• Marque ProvenceminorGTM or Marketing PartnerBrand partnership for regional identity and Provence marketing initiatives.
• Parc Naturel Régional de CamarguemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe regional nature park authorities coordinate on sustainable tourism, environmental protection, and nature-based visitor experiences in the Camargue.
• Ecole Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie (ENSP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFrance's only photography art school founded in Arles in 1982, creating a permanent ecosystem of photographers and supporting the destination's artistic identity.
• La KabineminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation of emerging photographers coordinating Le Festival OFF, the alternative photography festival running alongside Les Rencontres.
• Les Rencontres d'ArlescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe annual international photography festival is the flagship event driving cultural tourism, founded in 1969 by Lucien Clergue and others.
• CPIE Rhône-Pays d'ArlesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEnvironmental education organization that created the audio-guided Via Rhôna tour featuring Mathieu Werchowski's sound works.
• LUMA ArlesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe interdisciplinary creative campus on the 11-hectare Parc des Ateliers houses artists, researchers, and thinkers, featuring Frank Gehry's iconic tower.
• Chambre de Métiers et de l'Artisanat de Région PACAminorGTM or Marketing PartnerChamber of trades supports the artisan and craft maker network, contributing to the craftsman circuit and 'Métiers d'Art' excellence recognition.
• Atout FrancemajorGTM or Marketing PartnerFrance's official tourism development agency awards certifications including Qualité Tourisme and Tourisme et Handicap labels.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Office de Tourisme de Nice: Larger, better-resourced municipal DMO on the Côte d'Azur competing for the same international leisure traveler pool as Arles, with broader coastal-resort positioning but fewer UNESCO heritage assets.
• Office de Tourisme de Bordeaux: Municipal DMO for Bordeaux, a UNESCO-listed city with comparable heritage-tourism positioning and a similar mix of ticketing, event marketing, and cultural-segment targeting at larger scale.
• CRT Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (Provence Tourisme): Regional tourism committee that markets the broader Provence region, including Arles. Functions as a hierarchical peer — a larger, broader-scope entity that Arles works alongside and through, rather than competes against.
• Atout France: France's national tourism development agency, which awards the Qualité Tourisme and Tourisme et Handicap labels held by the Office de Tourisme d'Arles. Acts as a regulator, certifier, and macro-marketing peer for all French destination tourism offices.
• OnlyLyon Tourisme et Congrès: Larger French municipal tourism office with a similar portfolio of UNESCO heritage marketing, MICE services via dedicated congress arm, and digital visitor-platform operations.

Direct peers

• Office de Tourisme et des Congrès de Marseille: Municipal tourism office for Marseille, France's second-largest Mediterranean city and a peer destination marketing organization in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur with overlapping cultural and nature assets, ticketing, and event-driven promotion.
• Office de Tourisme d'Avignon: Municipal tourism office for Avignon, a peer Provençal DMO with UNESCO heritage (Papal Palace), major performing-arts festival (Festival d'Avignon), and a similar product mix of heritage ticketing, accommodation booking, and event marketing.
• Office de Tourisme de Nîmes: Municipal tourism office for Nîmes, an Occitanie neighbor sharing the Roman-monuments tourism proposition (Arena, Maison Carrée) and a comparable ticketing, brochure, and event-programming model.

Emerging players

• LUMA Arles: Major strategic partner and creative-campus operator in Arles. Functions as a complementary, not competitive, peer — a cultural-anchor institution that shapes visitor demand patterns the tourism office markets to.
• Parc Naturel Régional de Camargue: Regional nature-park authority and explicit strategic partner of the Office de Tourisme d'Arles. Comparable in scope of Camargue visitor information, but focused specifically on protected-area ecotourism rather than full destination marketing.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/arlestourisme
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/office-de-tourisme-d'arles

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 Office de Tourisme d'Arles