Where should you study this subject? Where can you receive world-class training?
What kind of opportunities does this profession offer in Bangladesh and abroad?
Tourism and Hospitality Management is a highly promising career path. In this article, I will try to give you a clear overview of how you can enter this profession, what qualifications are required, where you can study the subject, where you can receive world-class training, and what kinds of career opportunities may be available in the future.
Tourism Management
In simple terms, Tourism Management refers to a broad range of activities involved in managing travel-related services for tourists who visit destinations for leisure, recreation, or business purposes. Behind all these activities, there is always a clear business objective.
Services provided by tourism or travel agencies include ticketing, hotel booking, food and accommodation arrangements, local transportation, sightseeing, travel guides, and many other related services.
By studying Tourism Management, one can typically pursue career opportunities such as travel agent, tour guide, ticketing executive, marketing professional, and various roles within travel and tourism agencies.
Hospitality Management
On the other hand, the hospitality industry works as a supportive and extended branch of the tourism industry and is considered an integral part of Tourism Management.
Hospitality Management focuses on arranging accommodation for guests in hotels, motels, or resorts, managing food and beverage services in restaurants, pubs, or hotels, and handling services such as laundry, business meetings, and even medical assistance during a guest’s stay.
After studying Hospitality Management, common workplaces include hotels, motels, resorts, and cruise ships. Graduates can work in front office or back office management, as bakers in bakeries, chefs in kitchens, bartenders at bars, housekeeping staff, or in service-related roles.
In addition to these roles, there are many other career opportunities within the tourism and hotel industry.
Where to Study Tourism and Hospitality Management?
Where Can You Get World-Class Training?
Bangladesh offers quality education and training opportunities in Tourism and Hospitality Management. Students can choose from academic programs such as four-year honors degrees, as well as short-term, mid-term, and long-term professional training courses.
For academic or honors degree programs, students must enroll in government universities or approved private universities.
For short courses or diploma programs, students usually need to enroll in specialized training institutes.
In this article, I will discuss education and training options in Tourism and Hospitality Management and explore the career opportunities available in this field.
Types of Education and Training in Tourism & Hospitality Management
I have divided education and training in Tourism and Hospitality Management into three categories based on duration:
- Long-term training or academic studies
- Mid-term training
- Short-term training
Long-Term Training or Academic Studies
For long-term education, four-year bachelor’s (honours) degree programs are available at both public and private universities in Bangladesh.
You can enroll in a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management at universities such as the University of Dhaka, Daffodil International University, American International University–Bangladesh (AIUB), and many other institutions. The National University has also introduced honours programs in this subject.
Through a four-year honours degree, you can enter this profession. However, most of the learning in this field is technical and practical. So even after completing an honours degree, taking additional short-term or mid-term technical training can help you stay ahead of others in this career.
Who is long-term training suitable for?
- Those who want to work in managerial positions in the hotel industry
- Those who plan to pursue advanced studies abroad
- Those who want to migrate or apply for job visas to developed countries
For long-term education, having a strong mindset and family support is very important.
Mid-Term Training
Mid-term training programs usually last one to two years. Both mid-term and short-term courses are considered job-oriented training and are highly effective for entering the industry quickly.
When it comes to mid-term training, I will mention only one institute here:
National Hotel and Tourism Training Institute (NHTTI).
NHTTI is located in Mohakhali, Dhaka, opposite Titumir College, in the Hotel Abakash building. Details are available on their official website.
Why NHTTI?
Although NHTTI is a government training institute, no other institute in Bangladesh currently matches its quality and international acceptance in this field. This does not mean other institutions are bad—many are doing well—but in terms of global recognition, NHTTI still stands apart.
Over the past decade, NHTTI has been significantly upgraded. The trainers and instructors work with a high level of professionalism and dedication, comparable to institutes in developed countries. The course modules are world-class and regularly updated.
Certificates from NHTTI are widely accepted by five-star chain hotels, resorts, government organizations, ships, and many other sectors worldwide—especially for mid-term training programs.
Popular Mid-Term Courses at NHTTI
Diploma in Hotel Management (2 Years)
This is a highly demanding two-year diploma program with an excellent reputation both in Bangladesh and abroad.
Students can apply after passing HSC or equivalent examinations. Admission is through written and oral tests.
This course prepares students to work in any sector of the hotel industry, including:
- Front office and back office management
- Hot kitchen and bakery production
- Beverage and service
- Housekeeping
- Food costing
- Safety and hygiene
- Marketing and communication
- Computer operations
Along with the two-year course, students must complete six months of industrial attachment.
Professional Chef Course (1 Year)
This is a one-year mid-term course focused mainly on food production. The goal is to develop students into skilled, professional, world-class chefs.
This course follows a professional approach, different from home-style cooking. Training starts from the basics, including:
- Methods of cooking
- Different types of sauces
- Knife skills
- Safety and hygiene
- Food contamination control
During this course or later in your career, you will realize that being a chef is not about cooking hundreds of dishes. With strong basics, you will understand that cooking is more an art than a science.
If your foundation is strong and you understand the core of the profession, success becomes only a matter of time—just like in any other career.
This course provides in-depth training in:
- Hot kitchen
- Cold kitchen
- Bakery
Admission is available after HSC, through an entrance examination.
This course is ideal for those who are fully committed to building a career as a chef. It has gained strong recognition both locally and internationally.
Career Scope for Chefs
The demand for chefs is very high and will continue to grow in the future. Even the Fourth Industrial Revolution is unlikely to significantly impact this profession.
Professionals involved in production and marketing usually experience faster career growth compared to many other managerial roles.
Skilled chefs with good English and strong communication skills rarely face unemployment.
Common workplaces include:
- Five-star chain hotels
- Resorts
- Chain food outlets
- Ships
- Airlines
- Government and private organizations
- Embassies
- Own businesses and many more
Career Progress After Training
After completing training, a student usually starts working as a Commis III or, in some cases, as a Dishwasher. Gradually, through skill development, professionalism, and hard work, one moves upward in the career ladder.
Not everyone reaches the position of Chef de Cuisine or Executive Chef, but these are considered the highest positions in this profession. Even at the top level, learning never stops in this career.
In my opinion, working as a chef in a five-star hotel abroad is relatively easier and more profitable. I have discussed this topic in detail in another video, and Insha’Allah, a written article on this subject will also be published.
Short-Term Training
For short-term training, I will again mention NHTTI only, although some other institutes also offer short- and mid-term courses.
Short-term courses are known as National Certificate Courses, and they usually last around four and a half months.
Available Short-Term Courses
- Food & Beverage Service
- Food & Beverage Production
- Bakery & Pastry Production
- Front Office & Secretarial Operations
- Housekeeping & Laundry Operations
- Tour Guide & Travel Agency Operations
Who Are Short-Term Courses Suitable For?
- Those who have completed a four-year honours degree in Hotel Management
- Those who have work experience in this sector but do not have a certificate
- Students planning to study abroad on a student visa, to get better part-time jobs
- Those who want to start their own business
- Those learning out of passion or personal interest
Admission Process
For NHTTI, all course circulars are published on their official website, usually on the notice board section.
After the circular is published, applicants need to collect the admission form from the institute’s office and complete the admission process by following the given instructions.
The written exam generally includes basic questions from:
- General Knowledge
- English
- General Mathematics
- Bangla
Due to a limited number of seats and a large number of applicants, the selection process has become increasingly competitive.
Usually, a viva (oral exam) is conducted after the written test. Recently, for some courses, written exams, results, and viva exams have been arranged on the same day to reduce student inconvenience.
NHTTI operates with a highly efficient and effective management system.
Final Thoughts on Choosing the Right Course
The earlier you start a hotel or hospitality-related course, the better it is for your career.
Choosing the right course depends on several factors, such as:
- How far you want to go in your career
- Your area of interest
- Your age and educational background
- Your family situation
- Where you want to see yourself in this sector 10 years from now
Whether you work in service, front office, or kitchen production (chef or baker)—if you are skilled and truly love your work, then the sky is the limit, Insha’Allah.
There is a strong demand for skilled professionals in this sector, and skilled people rarely remain unemployed. Like many professions, income may be low at the beginning, but as skills and experience grow, earnings increase significantly, especially in production roles.
Many people look down on those working in hotels or restaurants, but there is nothing small about this profession.
We all work for someone. We all serve someone.
From birth to death, we continuously receive services from others and provide services to others.
“You’re serving. You’re not a servant. Serving is a supreme art. God is the first servant. God serves men but he’s not a servant to men. – Eliseo Orefice”
― Roberto Benigni La Vita è Bella
― From the Movie, “Life is Beautiful”
NHTTI Website: http://www.nhtti.gov.bd/