Thirty-two star-rated hotels on the resort island of Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara are offering discounts of up to 50 per cent amid eruptions at Mount Agung.

The policy was taken to facilitate domestic and international tourists who must extend their stays due to flight changes and airport closures.

“The discounts are being offered to help tourists,” said Mohammad Faozal of the West Nusa Tenggara Tourism Agency at a press conference in Mataram on Thursday.

He added that the discounts had been agreed to by hotel managements and the Hotels and Restaurants Association (PHRI).

Faozal also said the tourism agency had prepared three buses to offer free transportation. “One bus is on standby at the airport, while two buses are provided to tourists who want to move to other parts of the province,” he added.

Meanwhile, Lombok International Airport general manager I Gusti Ngurah Ardita announced on Thursday morning that the airport would halt operations from 10:37 a.m. until midnight on account of the spread of volcanic ash from Mt. Agung,

The airport was previously closed on Nov 26 and 27.