Spatial matching and correlation between recreation service supply and demand in the Ili River Valley, China

Natural ecosystems provide various material and nonmaterial services to individuals. The provision of nature-based recreation services has become an important means to meet the spiritual needs of mankind. However, the increasing demand for recreation services and the unclear supply of recreation services have brought many challenges for recreation service planning. Therefore, to achieve high-quality regional development, scientific exploration of the relationship between recreation service supply and demand is necessary. In this study, we integrated multiple data sources into an indicator system for the supply and demand of recreation services. Environmental and landscape attribute indicators were applied in this study as proxies for the supply of recreation services, and population, gross domestic product grid data, and nighttime usage data were used to represent the local demand for recreation services. Finally, matching patterns and correlations between the supply and demand of recreational services in the Ili River Valley were identified. Overall, the results showed that the Ili River Valley has great potential for recreation services supply, but the local demand for recreation services is relatively lower than the supply. Therefore, there is a spatial mismatch between the supply and demand for recreation services in the Ili River Valley. We applied bivariate spatial autocorrelation analysis to examine autocorrelation among recreation service indicators. The results showed a significant spatial correlation between recreation services supply and demand. Therefore, this study can provide information for Ili River Valley's recreation planning and management.