LAUSR

Abstract Applying Search Engine Optimization (SEO) tools such as TrafficEstimate and Twitter Search, Google Trends, Alexa, SimilarWeb, SEMRUSH, SEO Analyzer, and Moz-Open Site Explorer; this research comparatively evaluates tourism websites of the government of India and of five Indian states. The criteria for selecting state websites are the number of Foreign Tourists Arrival (FTA). Using each SEO tool, individual rank is given first and then the mode of ranks is taken to give the final ranking to six tourism websites. Though there is literature available on evaluating Indian government (central or state) run tourism websites, there is no research available on comparing and ranking state government tourism websites in the Indian context, using Search Engine Optimization tools presented in this research. The result shows that the government of India's website www.tourism.gov.in ranks fourth. Tourism websites of three states i.e. Delhi, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu ranks first, second, and third respectively.