Tourism first started to boom after World War II, although only well-heeled people could afford to travel. In 1953, Naturefriends together with the Austrian Trade Union Federation (ÖGB) and the Chamber of Labour (AK) founded the “Verband für Sozialtourismus” (association for social tourism) and organised affordable journeys and holidays for its members. That also included the first joint train journeys to the Mediterranean coasts, the organisation of tent camps and, later on, the establishment of holiday accommodations. In the subsequent years, they also organised international winter holidays and international white-water holidays for their more active members.