Holiday homes are the dominant form of rural tourism in Split-Dalmatia County. Strategic documents recognize rural tourism as a significant development potential of the area, highlighting the distinctiveness of traditional Dalmatian stone construction as a feature that contributes to the attractiveness of the tourist destination. In this sense, the research interest of this doctoral dissertation focuses on traditional holiday homes, taking into consideration both adapted traditional houses and newly constructed ones that include elements of traditional construction. The aim of the research is to determine the reflexivity of tradition on the example of holiday homes in Split-Dalmatia County, analysing the extent to which such facilities contribute to the preservation of tradition and establishing their role in the promotion of neo-endogenous rural development. Such a model of development implies a balance between its economic, socio-cultural, political and environmental dimension, and is based on the networking of local and extra-local actors (local population, entrepreneurs, regional and national authorities, EU bodies, etc.). Given the specific nature of traditional construction in Dalmatia and the development potential of rural tourism in Split-Dalmatia County, the case study method was used as the research approach, with the study itself conducted in three successive phases between April and July 2022. The first phase of the study included a content analysis of online vacation rental platforms. Based on the results of previous studies, the platforms of NOVASOL, Airbnb and Booking were selected, being those most frequently used by owners of vacation homes. The intention was to determine the number of traditional holiday homes on the territory of Split-Dalmatia County (N=328), their administrative and geographical locations, the frequency of use of traditional construction elements, as well as the perspectives of tourists regarding such facilities. During the second phase of study, sixteen interviews were conducted with owners of traditional holiday homes in Split-Dalmatia County, with the aim to reflect on the contribution of such facilities to neo-endogenous rural development. In terms of the economic dimension, the focus of interest was on stabilisation of income and on rising standards of vacation home owners, reducing emigration, the use of local products and services and the creation of local supply networks. The socio-cultural dimension was considered through the contribution of holiday homes to preserve local identity and strengthen human and social capital, the additional offer and contents provided to the local population (with no commercial benefit), and the appreciation of local routines. The political dimension involved the participation of holiday home owners and the local population in development planning and decision-making processes at the local and extra-local levels. The contribution to the environment included the adaptation of existing houses, the use of recycled materials in equipping and decorating holiday homes, the use of renewable energy sources, the promotion of biodiversity in their business activities and raised awareness of the need to preserve the environment among the local population. In the third phase of the study, five interviews were conducted with experts in the field, i.e. scholars concerned with rural areas and employees of administrative bodies in tourism. The interviews primarily focused on the topics of strategic development of rural areas and rural tourism, and on tradition being recognized as a development resource at the political, professional and scientific and entrepreneurial level. Expert insights contributed to positioning the results of the previous two study phases within a broader social context. The results of the study indicate a considerable presence of different traditional elements within the sample of holiday homes analysed (e.g. exterior and interior decoration and garden areas). Their use, however, is not systematic. Also, the current contribution of holiday homes to rural development is limited. Such facilities do contribute to the stabilisation of incomes and the rise of living standards of their owners and to greater market placement opportunities for family farm products and services. Their influence on the creation of tourist offer networks is nevertheless quite minor. Although the business of holiday homes does not disrupt the routines of the local population, and such facilities also provide additional contents and facilities for the local community, their owners neither participate in development planning and political decision-making processes nor motivate the local population to do so. The situation is better when it comes to the environmental dimension of neo-endogenous rural development. Holiday homes do have a positive impact on all indicators considered. In terms of their contribution to raising awareness of the need to preserve the environment, it is nevertheless necessary to point out the problem of illegal waste disposal in Split-Dalmatia County. More significant effects of holiday homes in terms of neo-endogenous rural development depend on a strategic political approach to such areas, which, according to the experts interviewed and previous studies, is still lacking. In this sense, it is necessary to support various activities with financial measures (grants, favorable credits, tax relief, etc.), not only agriculture, and to strengthen human and social capital as necessary prerequisites for their success. The use of tradition on the example of holiday homes appears as an insufficiently recognized potential, as yet undervalued at the political, professional, scientific and entrepreneurial levels alike.