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18 May 2026
Visit Maldives showcases heritage cuisine at Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026
Visit Maldives Corporation is showcasing the Maldives’ culinary heritage and resort dining experiences at the Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026, taking place from 16 to 19 May at the International Convention Centre Wales in Newport, United Kingdom.
The global culinary event brings together chefs, culinary educators, hospitality professionals and food and beverage leaders from across international markets, offering destinations an opportunity to promote gastronomy tourism and strengthen industry partnerships.
Through its participation, Visit Maldives is positioning the Maldives as a destination for experiential dining by highlighting traditional Maldivian cuisine alongside the fine dining concepts developed across the country’s luxury resort sector.
For culinary professionals, the initiative reflects the growing importance of gastronomy within destination marketing strategies, particularly as travellers increasingly seek food-led cultural experiences as part of their journeys.
At the Maldives stand, visitors are being introduced to authentic Maldivian flavours through live demonstrations of heritage cuisine, providing insights into local cooking techniques, seafood preparations and spice profiles influenced by the country’s island geography and traditions.
The delegation is also conducting one-on-one meetings with chefs, hospitality stakeholders, culinary educators and international travel trade professionals to strengthen industry connections and explore future collaboration opportunities.
In addition to culinary demonstrations, Visit Maldives is distributing promotional materials and curated culinary factsheets aimed at increasing awareness of the Maldives’ food culture among hospitality professionals, media representatives and food-focused travel partners.
The Worldchefs Congress & Expo 2026 programme includes culinary competitions, panel discussions and networking sessions involving international chefs and hospitality leaders, making it a key platform for destinations seeking visibility within the global food and beverage industry.
Visit Maldives stated that participation in the event supports its wider strategy to diversify the Maldives’ tourism offering by promoting gastronomy, cultural experiences and experiential travel in key international markets.
The engagement is also expected to provide market insights that can support future tourism and hospitality campaigns aligned with changing global dining and travel trends.
