Corpus Christi, Texas, June 06, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS –  The Texas State Aquarium’s Caribbean Journey is proving to be a big hit with  guests.

The Aquarium has welcomed over 50,000 guests since opening on May 13, including over 13,000 during Memorial Day weekend. Guest attendance since Caribbean Journey’s opening is over 50 percent higher than the same period last year. At its current pace, the Aquarium is projected to welcome a record number of guests in 2017.

With the significant increase in visits to Caribbean Journey and its other exhibits, the Texas State Aquarium will raise Corpus Christi’s profile and provide a significant boost to the regional economy. Through the new exhibits, presentations, and education programs in Caribbean Journey, guests will also be inspired to care for ocean life, furthering the Aquarium’s mission to engage people with animals, inspire conservation for our seas, and support wildlife conservation.

“We’ve been waiting years to showcase the  Caribbean Journey experience to our guests, so it’s been great to finally see that their reactions have lived up to our expectations,” said CEO Tom Schmid.

Caribbean Journey will be open from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m. every day through September for summer hours. With their admission, guests can also take in the Gulf of Mexico and Dolphin Bay exhibits and presentations, the H-E-B Splash Park, and several other on-site exhibits and attractions.

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The Texas State Aquarium (TSA), the Official Aquarium of the State of Texas, is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) institution that is fully accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Its mission is to engage people with animals, inspire appreciation for our seas and support wildlife conservation.  TSA provides high-quality science education about marine conservation and the habitats and species of the Gulf of Mexico to families primarily in Texas. Recently, it was named the number one cultural attraction in South Texas and one of the Top 20 Aquariums in the nation by TravelChannel.com. Learn more at texasstateaquarium.org