Actual Self-Image Versus Ideal Self-Image: An Exploratory Study of Self-Congruity Effects on Gambling Tourism

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Mao-Hua Li¹  Ivan Ka Wai Lai² 

[1] Department of Economics and Management, Zhanjiang Preschool Education College;Faculty of International Tourism and Management, City University of Macau

关键词: actual self-image;    destination image;    ideal self-image;    self-congruity;    gambling tourism;    Macau;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2021.588190

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

This study aims to apply self-congruity theory to examine the relationship between self-congruity of tourists and their perceived image of a gambling destination. This study employs the Euclidean distance model and extends Malhotra's pars of adjectives with five new items about gambling motives. A face-to-face questionnaire survey was used, and a total of 152 samples were collected from tourists in Macau. The results show that the actual self-image of tourists is more related to their perception of Macau image. For actual congruence, tourists exhibit a greater tendency to match the informal, liberal, and emotional image of Macau. For ideal congruence, they have a tendency to match the contemporary, organized, and pleasant image of Macau. This study makes up for the deficiency of self-congruity theory in tourism research. This study helps tourism departments to develop appropriate strategies to promote gambling tourism and disseminate relevant information that can bring gambling destinations closer to tourists.

【 授权许可】

CC BY