City to entice gap year students

Beijing may become a gap year hotspot for international students, according to the capital's tourism commission, which is eyeing international students to boost tourist numbers.

"We have already studied the demands of international students from neighboring countries like Japan, South Korea and Russia, and they represent a potential tourism market," said Yu Debin, vice-chairman of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

He said international students will become the main consumers in Beijing's tourism market.