The Pt-, Ni- and Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers for gas sensors were prepared by the electrospinning of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) nanofibers containing Pt, Ni, and Cr precursors, the sputtering of $SnO_2$ on the electrospun PVP nanofibers, and the removal of sacrificial PVP parts by heat treatment at $600^{circ}C$ for 2 h. Pt-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers showed high response ($R_a/R_g=210.5$, $R_g$: resistance in gas, $R_a$: resistance in air) to 5 ppm $C_2H_5OH$ at $350^{circ}C$ with negligible cross-responses to other interference gases (5 ppm trimethylamine, $NH_3$, HCHO, p-xylene, toluene and benzene). Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$nanofibers showed the selective detection of p-xylene at $400^{circ}C$. In contrast, no significant selectivity to a specific gas was found in Ni-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers. The selective and sensitive detection of gases using Pt-decorated and Cr-decorated tubular $SnO_2$ nanofibers were discussed in relation to the catalytic promotion of gas sensing reaction.