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Brits wary of flying to US after terror alert

CROSS-ATLANTIC traffic is predicted to suffer following the alleged plot to blow up aircraft flying between the UK and the US.


A TripAdvisor poll of 1,200 travellers found 47% would avoid travelling between the countries because of a perceived increased risk.


Experts predict the US will suffer more than the inbound UK market, with British tourists snubbing the US due to safety fears and strict US immigration rules requiring 34 separate pieces of information.


Travel Industry Association of America chief executive Roger Dow conceded the US “should have a greater share of British travellers” and said the latest terrorism fears would hinder its efforts to increase UK arrivals.


Worldchoice chairman Colin Heal said US bookings had fallen.


Clive Green Travel owner Clive Green has also seen a significant sales drop to the US. “US immigration is becoming hard work and will get harder,” he said.


In contrast, European Tour Operators Association executive director Tom Jenkins said US travellers will not be put off travelling to the UK.


“There wasn’t a decrease in visitors last year when bombs went off in London, so why would there be now?”


Dow agreed tighter UK security checks will not deter US visitors as they are used to them at home.

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