The Quality of Life Program issued its annual report for 2023, including the achievements of the quality of life sectors that fall under the scope of the program to achieve the goals of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 related to the urban landscape, the security sector, the culture and heritage sectors, sports, tourism, recreation and hobbies, as the Quality of Life Program continued to achieve concrete positive results at the level of its strategic indicators, where last year 22 indicators achieved achievement rates of 100% and more, and the program contributed 1. 5 billion riyals to the GDP in 2023, in addition to the program's progress in implementing 127 various initiatives in close cooperation with the executive authorities.5 billion riyals in GDP in 2023, in addition to the program's progress in implementing 127 various initiatives in close cooperation with 17 executive bodies.
<The report revealed its most important indicators and the actual figures it achieved in 2023, which highlight the size of the efforts made in raising the level of quality of life and livability. The program is keen to provide options, develop systems, develop human capital, build and develop infrastructure, in addition to its contribution to empowering and supporting various quality of life sectors. The agreements and partnerships with government agencies, the private sector, and the non-profit sector resulted in the marketing of a number of investment opportunities and their implementation worth 800 million riyals in various projects that contribute to achieving the quality of life targets.
With regard to the quality of life indicators, the program highlights the magnitude of efforts to raise the level of quality of life and livability. In the field of urban design, the per capita rate of public spaces and places increased by 132% to 6.61 (square meters/person), while the number of parks reached 8328 parks, 5515 playgrounds and 222.9 million square meters of green spaces, reflecting a great interest in improving the urban landscape and upgrading the quality of services, in addition to the interest in humanizing cities, addressing visual distortions, developing roads, and promoting digital transformation in the municipal sector.
With regard to the indicators and targets of the program, it achieved remarkable progress in a number of indicators. <In sports, 2023 saw an increase in the percentage of people practicing sports and physical activities on a weekly basis to 37%, exceeding the target of 103%. The number of licenses for private sports facilities increased to 3,039, and the number of venues where sports events and programs are carried out reached 2,793 locations.
In the entertainment sector, the number of people practicing sports and physical activities per week increased to 37%, exceeding the target rate. <In the entertainment sector, global events were supported and human cadres were qualified through a range of training and educational programs, including a program ending with employment for 600 beneficiaries and training 90 entertainment leaders. To support and stimulate investments, entertainment accelerators were launched, and included a range of activities, including incubating 28 start-up projects. In terms of indicators, the number of entertainment venues increased to 584, exceeding the target by 1691 TP3T, and the indicator ”mall area ratio in square meters per capita” achieved a qualitative leap of 0.68 square meters/person, exceeding the target by 183%. As for the number of amateur clubs, it reached 569, exceeding the target by 142%.
The vital tourism sector witnessed significant qualitative leaps during the past year - more than 100 million tourist visits to the Kingdom from home and abroad were recorded by the end of 2023, seven years earlier than previously set to achieve this goal, achieving the strategic goal assigned to the Quality of Life Program (tourism sector development) to raise the 2030 target to 150 million tourist visits, and the volume of tourist spending reached more than 250 billion riyals, including 135 billion riyals for incoming tourists.
Many efforts have been made to increase the number of tourist visits to the Kingdom. Many innovative solutions and electronic applications were also worked on, as these initiatives achieved many achievements within the project to develop the tourism data system, in addition to providing training and qualification opportunities in the sector for Saudi youth of both sexes.
The cultural sector witnessed progress.
The cultural sector witnessed significant progress in construction projects and training and qualification programs in support of the cultural sector, as the number of Saudi employees in the cultural sector increased to 216,The number of completed cultural facilities increased to 45 facilities, the number of days of cultural events increased to 3934 days, a number of museums were opened, rehabilitation and restoration work was completed for a number of historical sites, including Qashlah Palace in Hail, King Abdulaziz Palace and Jerash site, in addition to the operation of craft centers in Medina, Tabuk and Al-Ahsa, and the registration of the Bani Maarid Reserve site in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
2023 witnessed significant support for the development and qualification of Saudi cultural cadres through a number of educational, qualification and training programs. The Royal Institute of Arts also held a number of educational and training programs and initiatives that benefited more than 4,000 beneficiaries, and announced the launch of the Saudi Harf Company, which aspires to provide job opportunities for artisans.
The year 2023 witnessed significant support for the development and qualification of Saudi cultural cadres through a number of educational, qualification and training programs.
