NEW DELHI: The ministry of tourism has sought a five-year goods and services tax holiday on cruise tourism at a ministerial meeting in a run up to the GST council meeting later this month. Tourism minister KJ Alphons petitioned the finance ministry to allow a GST waiver on cruise tourism in order to promote the niche tourism product.The tourism ministry's pitch has been endorsed by Nitin Gadkari 's shipping, ports and logistics ministry, which added that it has taken several initiatives to facilitate and promote cruise tourism in the country.At present, an 18% GST is levied on the cruise tourism industry, which is still in its nascent stages. A waiver has been a long-standing demand, which the industry has argued is in keeping with the global norm of exemption from domestic taxes.The tourism ministry has also asked the government for a customs duty waiver on liquor sold on international cruise ships which enter Indian waters and dock on Indian ports. At present customs duty is applicable on liquor inventories available on international cruise ships from the time they enter into a 12 kilometre radius of Indian waters and until they depart. Speaking to TOI, tourism minister K J Alphons said, "Globally cruise tourists are high spending tourists and an enormous amount of money stands to be made. So we have asked the government to grant it a five year GST holiday."