"Only 3,000 Residents, but 50,000 Visitors a Day: The Reason Small Island Villages Are Buzzing"

Favignana, Italy Draws Interest as Odyssey Filming Location
Population 3,000... Overtourism Measures Under Review

As director Christopher Nolan's film "Odyssey" enjoys box office success, both Ithaca in Greece, known as the real-life setting of the story, and Favignana in Italy, the filming location, are drawing increased interest from tourists. While there are high expectations for a tourism boom, concerns have also been raised about the possibility of an influx of visitors to these small islands, each with a population of around 3,000.

According to AFP and other sources on August 18 (local time), interest in travel to Ithaca in Greece and Favignana in Italy has surged following the release of "Odyssey."

Pabignana, Italy. Sicily Regional Government Tourism Website

The two islands are connected to the movie in different ways. Ithaca is reputed to be the homeland of the protagonist Odysseus in Homer's epic poem "The Odyssey," while Favignana, located off the western coast of Sicily, Italy, served as the filming stand-in for Ithaca in Nolan's movie.

Ithaca Sees Tourist Surge Even Without Filming

Ithaca, situated in the Ionian Sea west of mainland Greece, boasts pristine waters and scenic coastlines. However, being distant from major tourist hubs, it has not been a popular destination until now and has typically maintained a tranquil atmosphere even during peak season. About 3,000 people currently live on the island.

While the film has raised awareness of Ithaca, locals have expressed some disappointment, given that not a single scene was actually filmed there.

Ithaca Island, Greece. Ithaca Tourism Board

Dionysis Stanitsas, mayor of Ithaca, acknowledged the movie's substantial promotional impact but also voiced regret that the island did not serve as an actual filming location. He explained that he had requested the production team shoot some scenes in Ithaca, but this did not materialize.

Nevertheless, when the film was released, most of Ithaca's summer accommodations were already fully booked. Local residents expect the main tourism impact to unfold next year, as moviegoers begin planning their trips after seeing the movie.

Ithaca does not have large-scale ruins such as a palace of Odysseus or archaeological evidence of his existence, but traces of Homer and Odysseus can be found around the island. Statues of both are erected in the town square and city hall, and ships in the harbor are named after Odysseus’s son "Telemachos" and the goddess "Calypso."

According to legend, Dexia Beach, located a short distance from the harbor, is the spot where Odysseus first landed upon returning home after his long journey.

Archaeologist Spiros Kouvaras predicted that the number of tourists visiting Ithaca would rise significantly, noting that visitors are seeking not only the sea and beaches but also historical and mythological experiences.

Movie’s Ithaca Was Actually Favignana in Italy

The island depicted as Ithaca in the film is Favignana, located in the Mediterranean west of Sicily, Italy. The largest island among the Egadi Islands, it also has a resident population of only about 3,000. In the film, the Castle of Santa Caterina, positioned atop Favignana’s highest hill, appears as Odysseus’s palace.

Favignana is now ramping up tourism initiatives based on its identity as a filming location. Supported by the Sicilian cultural authorities and Universal Pictures, an exhibition center is set to open this October within the old Florio tuna factory, which served as the headquarters for the production team during filming.

Giuseppe Pagoto, mayor of Favignana, explained that plans are underway for tourists to experience the movie's production process and to view costumes and equipment actually used in the film.

A scene from the movie Odyssey. Universal Pictures

So-called "screen tourism," where people visit filming locations of movies or TV shows, is growing in influence worldwide. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates that visitor numbers to regions featured in successful films can increase by 25 to 40 percent. Market research firm Future Market Insights projects the sector’s market size will reach about 157.5 billion dollars (approximately 222 trillion won) by 2036.

There are also moves to invest in the movie-driven tourism boom. According to Mayor Pagoto, investors from North America, the Middle East, and India are inquiring about premium tourism facility investments aimed at the 2027 travel market. The closed old Valtur resort is set to be redeveloped into a five-star resort, and the historic Palazzo Florio on the main square is also being converted into upscale accommodation, targeting a June 2027 opening.

Mayor Pagoto explained that while in the past residents would convert their homes into small guesthouses, businesses are now starting to invest directly in large-scale real estate and facilities on the island.

Tourism Boom Is Welcome, But Overtourism Is a Concern

However, Favignana authorities are concerned about the issue of overtourism, which has troubled famous Italian destinations such as Venice, Florence, and the Dolomites. Though Favignana’s permanent population is about 3,000, the number of people staying on the island rises to 40,000-50,000 per day during the summer season, putting considerable strain on local infrastructure.

Mayor Pagoto said preparations are needed to accommodate growth in tourist numbers, starting with basic tourism infrastructure such as beach cleaning. Favignana authorities have installed 200 mooring buoys around the island to prevent boats from anchoring too close to the shore and are reviewing additional measures to manage the influx of tourists.

One proposal under discussion is requiring visitors who bring vehicles by ferry to stay for a designated minimum period. The current average stay is five to six days, but the authorities aim to extend this to 10 to 15 days.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.