ZIMBABWE’S Tourism Authority (ZTA) is offering free “educationals” to international tour operators in an attempt to revive the country’s devastated tourism sector. ZTA regional manager Zii Masiye said on Tuesday tour operators, travel agents and travel journalists from United Kingdom, South Africa and France have already been hosted on educational trips to resorts and game reserves. Tourist numbers in Zimbabwe have dropped 70% since landless peasants and war veterans invaded white-owned farms. Less than 20% of hotel rooms were occupied at the height of the tourism season in December, while only 25% of an estimated 1,4-million tourists to southern African visited Zimbabwe in 1999. The industry previously contributed 6% to the country’s Gross Domestic Product – African Eye News Service