Public Relations Must Be Able To Convince The Public That Public Transportation Is Safe From COVID-19

One of the public transportation in Jakarta (Photo by Irfan Meidianto / VOI)

BANDUNG - The need for a good collaboration between sectors in the transportation sector to gain public trust and a positive reputation. The message was conveyed by the Minister of Transportation Budi Karya Sumadi when opening the 2020 Transportation Sector Public Relations Communication Forum with the theme "Public Relations of Transportation: Adapting, Collaborating, and Shining" held by the Ministry of Transportation's Public Information and Communication Bureau in Bandung, Thursday, November 25.

The COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia has an impact in all sectors. Including transportation. And in fact, it creates new challenges for transportation public relations because many residents are worried, whether it is safe and impossible to catch COVID-19 when using public transportation.

For this reason, synergy and good collaboration are needed in the management of communication between public relations of transportation both on the regulator and operator side, both at the central and regional levels.

"Transportation public relations must work together and collaborate well in narrating new habits (IMR) in the transportation sector to convince the public that our public transportation is safe and healthy," said Minister Budi.

The Minister of Transportation hopes that the existing communications at the Ministry of Transportation or transportation operators are able to carry out directed public communication, build empathy, and be sustainable.

"Currently, the public is in the midst of confusion over information on social media about public transportation whose truth is not yet clear. For this reason, the public relations for transportation must be able to carry out public communication that builds empathy, is clear and able to convince the public," explained the Minister of Transportation.

The 2020 Public Relations Communication Forum for the Transportation Sector was attended by around 100 people within the Ministry of Transportation (Central and UPT), as well as operators of transportation facilities and infrastructure such as: Garuda Indonesia, Angkasa Pura I and II, Pelindo I to IV, Damri, ASDP, Airnav Indonesia , PT KAI, PT KCI, and others, the Department of Transportation, and other related agencies.

There were a number of expert speakers in the field of Public Communication, including: Special Staff Coordinator for the President of AAGN Ari Dwipayana who explained "The Narrative of the Government of the Advanced Indonesian Cabinet in 2021, Special Staff of the Minister of Transportation for Human Resources and Communication Adita Irawati who explained" Public Relations Strategy and Collaboration in the Transportation Sector ".

Then there were also PR and Brand Communication Practitioners / CEO Media Buffet Bima Marzuki who explained "Facing the Challenges of Transportation Public Relations Performance in the Era of Adaptation to New Habits", and psychologist Tara de Thouars who explained "Maintaining the Mental Health of Transportation Public Relations Actors and Understanding Community Mental Conditions in Pandemic Period ".

The purpose of holding this activity is to synergize public communication between transportation and build a commitment that public communication actors in the transportation sector are consistent in making efforts to convey policies and provide the best service even during a pandemic.

Through this meeting, it is hoped that all human transportation can adapt quickly in changing the work culture and understanding the public, collaborating on transportation transportation, and shining together in answering public doubts about the transportation sector and committing to educating the public to wisely transport in order to remain productive and healthy.