US border rules putting off European tourists, says Tui

Tighter border rules are putting European tourists off holidaying in the US, according to Europe's biggest package trip operator.

- Joanna Partridge

Tui's chief executive, Sebastian Ebel, said there had been a "significant decline" in travel to the US due to factors including "the atmosphere, what you hear from border control".

He said tourists were opting to visit Canada and other long-haul destinations such as Africa and Asia.

His comments come after a string of reports of foreigners with valid visas for the US facing interrogation, detainment and deportation, including a British tourist, two Germans, a Canadian and an Australian who were held and deported.

Sarah Shaw, from New Zealand, and her six-year-old son, who live in the US, are being held at a US immigration centre after they were detained crossing the Canada-US border.