Kupang's Oesina Beach: A White-Sand Paradise with Rp 2,000 Entry Fee
Pantai Oesina, also known as Air Cina, is a beautiful tourist spot famed for its fine white sand. The destination is located in Lifuleo Village, West Kupang District, Kupang Regency, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT). The name Oesina derives from ‘Oe’ meaning water and ‘Sina’ meaning China. This white-sand beach can be reached in approximately one to two hours’ travel from Kupang City heading west.
Visitors are required to pay an entry ticket of Rp 2,000 per person, with free admission for infants up to five years old. Meanwhile, parking fees are set at Rp 3,000 for motorcycles and Rp 5,000 for cars. Upon arrival at the beach area, tourists are greeted by a variety of culinary offerings and drinks sold by micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) run by the local community.
The management also provides a number of supporting facilities, such as small lopo (traditional gazebos) available for rent at a rate of Rp 50,000 per use, as well as tents for visitors who wish to camp in the beach area. In addition to enjoying the white sand and crystal-clear seawater, visitors can also observe the activities of seaweed farmers along the coast. The cultivated seaweed products are even sold directly to tourists as a distinctive local product. For families bringing children, the tourist area is also equipped with play facilities, including slides and swings.
A local resident, Aron (27), stated that Pantai Oesina has been managed by the village government through the Village-Owned Enterprise (BUMDes) since 2018. According to him, the destination has developed further since being designated a tourism village by the Kupang Regency Government in early 2025. ‘This has been around since 2018 and is managed by the village through the Bumdes. But since then, after the Village Minister visited, the local government made this a tourism village from January 2025,’ said Aron, a youth from the area, on Sunday (19/7/2026). He noted that most facilities in the tourist area can be rented, allowing visitors who wish to stay overnight to do so. ‘People usually rent until night. The lopo and tents here are also for rent. It’s Rp 50,000 for one day,’ he added.
Meanwhile, a visitor named Arin considered Pantai Oesina to be one of the best tourist destinations in NTT due to its natural beauty. However, she expressed hope that the government would add more supporting facilities, particularly public toilets. ‘This might be one of the best tourist spots here. But the government needs to equip it with bathrooms, because currently we can only borrow or rent toilets belonging to residents,’ she said.