Before 2003, Hong Kong tourism had fast grown and developed, turning the city into the hottest vacation destination. In 1985, there were eighteen thousand one hundred and eighty hotel rooms, but it was not already enough to accommodate all potential tourists as well as it caused an increase of prices approximately fifteen - twenty percent a year. In 1997, a number of rooms increased almost twice and that help relatively regulate enormously growing up prices. The 2003 outbreak of SARS and the general decrease in international travel transformed Hong Kong tourism into a frozen industry for a while. Long distance Hong Kong tourism is still down, but the city has not become less attractive for nationals and, respectively, overall Hong Kong tourism is many ways up.

This compact city is actually capable of attracting millions: transport is very efficient, attractions are abundant and technologies are advanced. Only imagine that the Harbor City, a major shopping and entertainment area of Hong Kong, has seven hundred restaurants alone. No less is the development of the Hong Kong hospitality industry important with new facilities open monthly and the improvement of the existing ones. Hotels have improved and advanced their services and amenities so that even moderately priced rooms today have room safes and hair dryers, cable TVs and an Internet access. Swimming pools and business centers are not rarity for Hong Kong accommodation, while air-conditioning is a must for all properties. Today, visitors are already overwhelmed in choosing the best hotel in Hong Kong: the choices are abundant and the majority of reviews are positive. The variety and high quality have made the Hong Kong hotel industry legendary: really, few cities offer such a great amount of first-rate hotels and such a wide array of more budget options. High-tech and trendy, historical and luxury, artistic and romantic, Hong Kong hotels offer discount deals, vacation, special and wedding packages.

The professional Internet marketing and promotion, support and close interaction and competition of all members of the Hong Kong tourism sphere are some other significant factors that place the industry to a new phase of its development. The Hong Kong Hotels Association is a leading voice of the Hong Kong tourism industry that plays an important role in supporting and promoting tourism to the area. It provides services for visitors arriving in Hong Kong, helping them with the hotel reservation and transportation. Besides, the Association actively participates in training and education for the hotel industry in Hong Kong via its interactive educational programs, called the Hotel Industry Skills Upgrading Scheme. Currently, the Hong Kong Hotels Association members offer over thirty five thousand seven hundred and sixty four rooms - more than ninety percent of the total Hong Kong accommodation.

Bargains are abound and the choice is great, but the majority of hotels require an advanced reservation. It is not a rarity for a visitor to arrive in Hong Kong, when all forty thousand rooms are already booked. It often occurs during March, April, October and November, while the prices are also the highest during peak months.