While reshaping the way people shop, talk and entertain themselves, Alibaba Group Holding Ltd is now changing the way tourists apply for a visa.
Sesame Credit, a credit rating system under the e-commerce giant's financial affiliate, Ant Financial, launched a credit-based visa application process for Chinese tourists traveling to Luxembourg and Singapore.
In collaboration with the Consulate General of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Shanghai, the company said users with a certain level of credit score can apply for a visa to the country through Alitrip, the online travel booking platform under Alibaba.
The Consulate will accept a Sesame Credit report as a proof of financial liability, without requiring incumbency certification, hukou and other documents.
Luxembourg is a member of the Schengen group. The accelerated process of visa application to this country means that it will be easier for Chinese tourists to visit France, Italy and dozens of other popular destinations in Europe.
In 2014, the number of Chinese outbound travelers broke 100 million for the first time, according to data from the China Tourism Academy, and the total is expected to reach 135 million this year, representing 16.8 percent year-on-year growth.
By tapping data on online shopping records and online financial behaviors, Sesame credit measure users' credit from five aspects - users' credit history, behavioral habits, ability to pay off debts, personal information and social networks. Each user can get a credit rating of between 350 and 950.
This new service is part of Sesame Credits' broad efforts to expand the commercial application of credit in China. In May, the company inked a deal with baihe.com, a dating website in China, to add Sesame Credit to its users' resumes in the hope of helping people find true love online.
