Bahrain's hospitality and tourism industry is poised to grow 7.6 per cent this year and there is a need for increased human resource development and training in the hospitality, travel and tourism sector, an expert has said.

"This is based on the total number of rooms expected to be added in the next four to five years and those under development and on forecasts of increase in tourist arrivals and leisure and business spending for international and regional visitors," Bahrain Institute of Hospitality and Retail (BIHR) director Nigel Viegas said in a Gulf Daily News report.

"Secondly, the GCC region has had continued economic growth and a healthy GDP projected for the future from which the hospitality industry will benefit as Bahrain's strategic location makes it attractive to tourists from the UK, Europe and the GCC itself," he added.

BIHR, in partnership with HTMi, one of Switzerland's leading hotel schools, is commencing a new diploma programme from September.

The move, Viegas said, is part of the institute's drive to make Bahrain a regional hub for training in hospitality, by providing highly trained individuals to deliver benchmark standards of managerial competence in hospitality management.

The International Hotel and Tourism Management HTMi Diploma Programme will be run by BIHR, with progressing students potentially going to Sorenberg in Switzerland to complete their Bachelor's Degree at HTMi, the report said.

BIHR academic dean Michael Hoy said the curriculum is designed to meet the requirements of global hospitality and multinational hotel companies worldwide.

"The HTMi course offered at the Bahrain campus has a wonderful blend of the prestigious Swiss-style certificate as well as BIHR's ethos in imparting skills and qualities essential to success in senior management positions in the international hospitality industry," he said.

HTMi has assisted BIHR in designing a new teaching and training kitchen and restaurant facilities.

"Our curriculum meets the requirements of five-star hotel companies worldwide.

"Our facilities include training kitchens and restaurants, a front office and housekeeping laboratory, a resource centre and state-of-the-art information technology including campus-wide wireless facilities," Hoy said.

BIHR is the only institute in the kingdom offering student visas and students from abroad can now undertake the HTMi course here in Bahrain, Hoy added. - TradeArabia News Service