Overseas travel during Golden Week is expected to increase as low fuel surcharges attract consumers even amid the recession.

JTB Corp., the country's largest travel agency, said Friday the number of people planning to leave Japan between April 25 and May 5 rose 10.1 percent to 500,000, up from 454,000 last year.

H.I.S. Co., which owns No. 1 Travel, announced Thursday the number of people who booked Golden Week overseas air tickets via the H.I.S. group jumped 26 percent compared with last year, without providing the exact figures.