Government and private tourism training institutions are offering various courses for the prospective hotel and tourism staff. The number of students is increasing rapidly, sources said.

The National Hotel and Tourism Institute run by Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC) at Hotel Abakash at Mohakhali offers both short and long courses for their students.

Purbani Hotel and Tourism Training Institute, Tommy Miah's Institute of Hospitality Management at Mohammadpur and Hotel Razmoni Isha Kha Catering Institute at Kakrail are among other institutions offering training.

These organisations mainly offer diploma courses with the duration of two weeks to two years. The minimum educational qualification of the students is higher secondary certificate (HSC).

BPC has been offering a two-year full time national diploma course in hotel and catering supervisory management (HCSM) since 2002.

Besides, it offers six short courses -- food and beverage production, food and beverage services, travel and tour operations, front office secretariat operations, bakery and pastry production, housekeeping and laundry operations and computer course.

"About 23,000 students have been trained at this institute since 1974 and many of them are working overseas," said Alamgir Khan, acting principal of the National Hotel and Tourism Institute.

He said language courses are offered to students to enable them to communicate with foreigners. Chinese, Japanese and French languages are taught in this institute.

"We are also trying to get affiliation to foreign institutes," Alamgir said. Most of the teachers are trained abroad and students get on-job training attachment programme facilities.

The two-year diploma course offered by the BPC is divided into four semesters. During the third semester, the students get the on-job training attachment programme at Sheraton and Sonargaon hotels.

Two groups of students are sent to these two five-star hotels for a six-month professional training.

Tommy Miah's Institute of Hospitality and Management has been operating since last year. Its counsellor Aminur Rahman said they offer four short-term certificate courses on tourism and hospitality management.

"We have a one-year diploma programme also," he said. The institute has about 275 students and the number is increasing, he added.

"Our courses are recognised by the tourism ministry. We will soon get affiliation of some UK institutes for these courses," Aminur said.

Students are getting jobs both at home and abroad catering to staff requirements of the growing international standard hotels in the city.

Heads of the institutes said students have a bright prospect in the job market as there is a huge demand for skilled and semi-skilled caterers and housekeepers in European countries.

A few private universities and training institutes are also offering some special courses on catering and hotel management.