The mayor of Ithaca has rejected a proposal to market the Ionian Islands as “the Islands of Odysseus,” saying the designation cannot be accepted by the municipality because it concerns Ithaca’s history, identity and international brand.

Mayor Dionysis Stanitsas made the remarks after a reference by Deputy Regional Governor Savvas Koulouris at the latest Regional Council meeting to the naming proposal ahead of a London event.

Stanitsas said Ithaca supports the outward promotion and tourism development of the Ionian Islands, but argued that “Ithaca is Ithaca. Odysseus has his homeland, and this cannot be transferred into a general tourism brand for the Ionian Islands.”

Source: Ekathimerini.com