Siliguri, May 26: Siliguri Government Polytechnic College has introduced two new courses from this year with an eye on the growing requirements of the tourism and hospitality industry in the region.

“We have introduced a six-month course on housekeeping and front-office management and a one-year course on food processing and food and beverage service,” principal Pujan Sarkar said. “The intake of each course will be 30.”

The minimum requirement for admission to the courses is 50 per cent in mathematics and the science subjects combined in Madhyamik or equivalent Class X exams. The sale of application forms began today and will go on till June 16.

Sarkar said the institution in Siliguri is one of the five polytechnic colleges selected among the 43 in Bengal to offer courses related to the tourism and hospitality industry.

Currently, the college offers three-year diploma courses in computer science and technology, architecture, electronics and telecommunication engineering, and electronics and instrumentation engineering as well as two-year diploma course in pharmacy. The total seat-strength of the college is 250.

The principal said the college has received Rs 8.5 lakh and Rs 7.5 lakh from the All India Council for Technical Education to modernise the laboratories of the pharmacy and computer science and technology departments, respectively.