The process of introducing holidays with pay as the entitlement of every worker was long and complicated. The first workers’ and unions’ attempts for its introduction happened just before and right after the World War I. In the inter-war period holidays with pay were the subject of many discussions. Since the employers, pressured by the unions, had to choose between holidays with pay and the reduction of weekly work-time, they chose to allow the workers to have their holidays with pay in a limited form. Holidays with pay were used for a political purpose of raising national consciousness and pride. Many activities have been organized to unite the nation. There were regimes which wanted to control workers’ free time and in the same time promote their ideology. After World War II European countries began to realize the benefits of implementation and juridification of the holidays with pay and creating conditions for development of tourism for large masses. Holidays with pay were legitimized by governments, thus initiating investments in tourist infrastructure. They started to fulfil their touristic potential and develop their tourist destinations. Workers, or tourists, started to travel abroad and spend their summer months at the seaside resorts.