The MP for Meedhoo told the newspaper that tourist arrivals from France will increase by 20 or 30 percent as a result of discussions that took place with French travel and tour operators. Shiyam was part of the Maldivian delegation.

The delegation also discussed the importance of establishing a promotional unit in France to advertise the Maldives as a tourist destination.

Shiyam, a former deputy leader of the opposition Dhivehi Rayyithunge Party (DRP) prior to the 2008 presidential election, has been voting with the ruling party on the government’s economic reform bills.