The Hong Kong Association of Travel Agents (HATA) began as an idea, back in 1954, when a handful of travel agents in Hong Kong decided they should form an association. It took a while, but in 1957 HATA was born. Since HATA was formed, a great deal has happened, both within HATA itself and within the industry. HATA has grown from a small lobbying body, campaigning to keep standards among travel agents high, into a group that gets things done for the industry.