Expectation, Perceived Value and Behavioral Intention in Beauty Medical Tourism: Focusing on DSC’s Moderating Effect (Destination-Self Congruity)

Purpose: In-depth research has been conducted, focusing on the beauty as one of the pursuits of tourists, particularly in the context of cosmetic surgery tourism. Beauty medical tourism should provide not only excellent medical services but also tourism programs at destination where enhance effective treatment. Therefore, this research argued the significance of destination brand management by verifying that tourist’s self-congruity is related with variables such as expectation, perceived values and behavioral intention. Methods: Based on the Meaning Transfer Theory (MTT) and the Destination Self-Congruity (DSC) theory, research model was designed. A survey was conducted targeting Chinese women tourists who share a substantial portion of the South Korean beauty medical tourism market. Total 340 valid samples were collected for a month from April in 2023. Using SPSS 18.0 and Smart PLS 4.0 packages, measurement model’s reliability and validity were tested. Structure model’s model fit and path analysis were conducted. Results: The empirical analysis revealed several significant findings: Expectation of beauty medical tourism had a significant impact on perceived values (Hypothesis 1). Perceived values of medical tourism significantly influenced behavioral intention (Hypothesis 2). Beauty medical tourism DSC had significant moderating effects on perceived values, and behavioral intention, partially. (Hypothesis 3). In specific, DSC have moderating effect, leading external perceived value to behavioral intention. Conclusion: To induce potential medical tourists to visit, how to brand the beauty of DSC, or medical tourism destinations where medical services are provided, and how to match this with potential tourists self-congruity are the key to realizing beauty medical tourism.