1) Search engines are the top source of travel information for personal travelers, with most conducting extensive online research across multiple sessions before booking. 2) Effective search engine marketing in tourism has several strategic roles including driving existing inquiries, generating new customers, protecting from competition, and building a brand. 3) A search engine marketing value chain includes understanding user intent, choosing relevant keywords, creating ads, optimizing landing pages, and tracking conversions to improve campaigns over time. Continuous measurement and optimization of search engine marketing activities is important for success.