Travel agents in this central Japan city said the number of residents going on holiday overseas or within Japan during the 16-day sports extravaganza has shown a remarkable increase.

Kimito Fukukoshi, an official at the Nagano office of travel agent Kinki Nippon Tourist Co., said bookings for domestic tours, Tokyo Disneyland in particular, have doubled from the same period last year.

Overseas packages, mostly to popular tropical destinations such as Saipan and Guam, have gone up by 70 percent, he said.

There are plenty of reasons for the Olympic exodus.

People in Nagano, where the mercury dips below zero at this time of year, like to skip town to escape the midwinter cold.

Playing host to the Olympics helps. Most public schools in the prefecture are giving students at least nine days off beginning Feb. 7, the day the Winter Games get under way.

A number of manufacturers whose production will be affected by tight traffic control during the games, will be giving employees at least a four-day break.

Another reason for the exodus, apparently, is pure frustration.

Akio Horiuchi, Nagano branch vice manager of travel agent View Plaza, said travelers who have booked out-of-prefecture tours include those who failed to get tickets for competition venues or want to escape the hustle and bustle of the sports extravaganza.

''It's rare for the whole family to take a holiday together but the Olympics have given people a special opportunity to do that,'' Horiuchi said.

(Kyodo News)