Efforts to host MasterChef in Maldives underway

Tourism Minister Ibrahim Faisal announced today that efforts are underway to bring the world's biggest competitive cooking reality television series, MasterChef, to the Maldives.

During a press briefing held by the Tourism Ministry, Faisal highlighted the need to develop the culinary field in the Maldives, noting that some resorts already pay chefs as much as USD 35,000. The Minister emphasized his commitment to increasing the number of Maldivians working in this sector and outlined plans to collaborate with industry professionals to achieve this goal.

Faisal also stressed the importance of elevating more Maldivians to senior positions such as General Managers, Directors of Sales, and Operations Managers in resorts. To achieve this, he plans to implement special training programs for local employees.

"I will soon discuss with PSM the possibility of bringing MasterChef to the Maldives to spark interest in this field. I've already spoken with several resorts, and some have expressed strong support for the idea," Faisal said.

MasterChef, which began with the UK version in July 1990, is a globally recognized television reality cooking show that seeks to discover culinary talent through a series of challenges, judged by acclaimed food critics and chefs.

Faisal believes that hosting such a show in the Maldives would help produce professional chefs and inspire more young Maldivians to pursue careers in the culinary arts.

The Minister also noted that while many Maldivians are currently employed in regular jobs at resorts, he is focused on increasing the number of locals in higher-paying roles, with salaries ranging from USD 3,000 to USD 4,000.

"We're working on practical solutions to achieve this. For example, given that the Maldives is a world-leading destination, it would be more effective to train students in Maldivian resorts rather than sending them abroad to study hospitality," he added.