"The end of Spain emptied depends on the internet connection and getting it is a matter of will"



- President of the Extremadura Federation of Rural Tourism, member of the Economic and Social Council of the regional government and first woman counselor of Caja Rural in her land. A pioneer and groundbreaking profile of glass ceilings.

- I have been an entrepreneur since I was 17 years old and although I am urban, my passion for the rural world led me to become "neorural". 18 years ago I bought a 19th century farmhouse in an Extremadura that recognizes that it must leave agriculture to open up to new facets. And I have always had a social vocation, so I am part of organizations such as the Local Action Executive Committee or the Citizen Participation Council of the City of Cáceres.

- You, who is an expert in the rural world, and now that there is so much talk about depopulation. What solution sees Spain emptied?

- We should not worry so much about counting how many we are, but about knowing who we are and what we lack. There is going to be a population transfer to the countryside where the woman will be key because she drags the family and seeks her well-being. Rural development really depends on something as basic as the internet connection, which is the key to access health through video consultations, training and work, wherever you are. And it's a matter of will, because I can't believe you can have an internet connection from Alaska and not from Teruel or Badajoz. With that and with new legislation that helps rural economic development, Spain will be neither emptied nor empty. Mobility is the third leg, faster trains to the cities and new means of transport that allow the interrelation between interior areas.

- It is, then, an eminently technological issue. Its solution can lead to cities that are empty.

- Living in the countryside is quality of life. Spain must see the opportunity offered by the rural world, both for permanent and temporary or tourist residence. We will not always live in the same place and many will come to our areas: children, adults and professionals who have already completed a stage. There will be years when we want to be at the top in the urban rhythm, but now, today, it only takes me two hours longer than you to arrive in Paris and in return I see spectacular sunrises and like tomatoes freshly picked from the garden.

- What is the most urgent thing that the Government should do?

- That the economic resources reach us too. And spend money on marketing so that people know how well they live in the countryside. In the next five years many decisions will be made. The executive woman, especially, has a cap to hold the pace of cities; we are getting tired of the sun rising every morning and seeing that life is going away, we are leaving ... those profiles of trained, professional women with great capacities can do everything in rural areas and provide much value. I have in my agenda bring you to those who have more than 45 years to this world to emerge, without previous guidelines, in which we are going to create everything. We must change the image of the rural world, which has a different concept of profitability, because not everything is money, and living as we live is priceless. There is much room for growth in interior Spain.

- How has Fitur been this year?

- We sell leisure, relaxation, sports, even work experiences, and every year is a challenge to overcome. It is the most difficult fair but also the most interesting.



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