Christopher Nolan's film "The Odyssey" is not only creating a stir at the box office but could also give Greek tourism an additional boost. The Hollywood blockbuster has already surpassed the one billion US dollar revenue mark. Since its theatrical release in mid-July, bookings for Greece have reportedly increased by 18 percent, according to figures from Easyjet Holidays, as reported by the Greek platform "Kathimerini."

The most important thing at a glance:

• "The Odyssey" is a box office success: Christopher Nolan's film has already grossed over 1 billion US dollars.
• Tourism boom in Greece: Since the film's release in mid-July, bookings for Greece have increased by 18 percent according to Easyjet Holidays.
• Ithaca hopes for more visitors: The island with around 3,000 inhabitants wants to benefit from the worldwide interest in Homer's "Odyssey."
• Homeland of Odysseus: Ithaca plays a central role in Homer's epic and is considered the home of the legendary hero.
• But not filming location: Although Christopher Nolan had invited Ithaka for the shoot, the corresponding film scenes were shot on Favignana off the coast of Sicily.
• Great expectations for 2027: Accommodations were already largely booked for the current season. The expected surge in tourists is therefore anticipated to start especially next year.
• No secure traces of Odysseus: In Ithaca, there is neither a proven palace of Odysseus nor archaeological evidence for his historical existence.
• Odyssey nonetheless omnipresent: Statues of Odysseus as well as boats with names like Calypso and Telemachus remind of the connection to ancient poetry.
• Tourist potential: Ithaca is currently considered a rather quiet travel destination and could gain more international attention due to the film.

From cinema hype to tourist rush?

Ithaka wants to benefit from the cinema hype. The small island in the Ionian Sea is closely linked to Homer's "Odyssey" and is considered the home of the hero Odysseus in the epic. With around 3,000 residents, Ithaka has so far been one of the quieter Greek travel destinations, overshadowed touristically by well-known islands like Mykonos or Santorini.

Christopher Nolan originally had the opportunity to film on Ithaka. The island administration even explicitly invited the director to do so. However, for the film adaptation, Nolan chose a different setting: The scenes representing Ithaka in the film were shot on Favignana off the Sicilian coast. The Greek island itself is therefore not visible in the film.

Nevertheless, the local authorities hope for a sustainable advertising effect. Mayor Dionysis Stanitsas expects that the global interest in Nolan's film and ancient history will attract more travelers to Ithaca. For the current season, accommodations were largely booked even before the film's release. Therefore, the actual influx of visitors is likely to be expected only next year.

Anyone wanting to walk in the footsteps of Odysseus on Ithaca should not expect any spectacular archaeological remains. To this day, there is neither a proven palace of the legendary king nor any other findings that could confirm his historical existence. However, the island does remind visitors of its famous literary connection: statues of Odysseus can be found in various locations, one of which stands in front of the town hall. In the harbor, there are also boats named after characters from Homer's epic, including the nymph Calypso and Odysseus's son Telemachus.