PERRY, Ga. – It turns out even the most conservative attendance prediction for the Go Fish Georgia Education Center in Perry was too ambitious.
The Telegraph of Macon reports the center drew only 15,000 visitors in its first 12 months of operation. That’s far below the 100,000 tourists projected to visit when the center opened in October 2010.
The dismal turnout gives more ammunition to critics of then-Gov. Sonny Perdue, who supported spending $19 million on the center and statewide boat ramp construction during a budget crisis that included furloughs and layoffs of state employees.
Perdue pitched Go Fish as an effort to encourage fishing tourism and boost Georgia’s economy. Supporters of the center say a new marketing campaign and improved attractions could draw more visitors.