School trips, local government-sponsored visits with sister cities and other international exchange programs with the United States and other countries are being called off or postponed due to heightened tensions in the wake of last week's terrorist attacks in the U.S., according to a Kyodo News survey.

According to the poll, released on Thursday, 27 high school excursions and overseas exchange programs involving elementary, high school and university students were either canceled or diverted to different destinations due to the terrorist attacks Sept. 11 in New York and Washington.

Nineteen other programs postponed events indefinitely, while 20 said they were considering canceling or postponing plans.