Visit Maldives CEO Abdulla Yasir has sparked discussion after describing a hypothetical scenario during an interview at the ATM Fair in the UAE, illustrating potential risks to halal compliance in resort kitchens.

“For example, you visit a resort. Once there, you order a sandwich from the kitchen… In preparing that chicken sandwich, for instance, they might have used utensils or equipment that were used just moments earlier to prepare something like pork, merely giving it a quick rinse with a little water before using it to make the chicken sandwich. When it is served to you, you might conclude that you have consumed a halal sandwich. However, that is not the reality.” he said

The remarks have prompted wider debate over halal certification standards within the Maldives’ tourism sector.