PSYCHOLOGY AND EDUCATION (2021) 58(1): 2953-2984 ISSN: 00333077 2953 www.psychologyandeducation.net Generation Z's Perceptions and Attitudes towards Tourism and Hospitality a Career Option – A Preliminary Investigation of Residents of Jharkhand Dr. Amar Kumar Chaudhary Senior Faculty Member, University Department of Commerce and Business Management, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand,India Vidya Jha Faculty, Department of BBA & MBA, Ranchi Women’s College, Ranchi, Ranchi University, Ranchi, Jharkhand, India ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study is to examine the attitudes and perceptions of Generation Z of Jharkhand, India towards careers in the tourism industry. The study is exploratory and based on a quantitative approach. A total of 196 respondents have been selected by random sampling from all the districts of Bihar and Jharkhand for this study. Areas that students have concerns over include respondent's relationship with their managers, promotion opportunities, career paths, and the pay and conditions offered within the industry. The study also focuses about the awareness of Gen Z about the Indian Tourism Development Programs, Jharkhand Tourism and the various regulations implemented in tourism sector. The data was collected by with the help of Google forms. The analysis has been done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The research shows that the Gen Z is good tourists but they have their doubts on taking up career in tourism sector. Though, they are inclined in doing so if this sector is more digital savvy, have good career development opportunities and if the tourism sector in Jharkhand is improved. Keywords: Gen Z, Jharkhand, Tourism, Career Development, Job Article Received: 18 October 2020, Revised: 3 November 2020, Accepted: 24 December 2020 Introduction “In 1995, the Internet was born. So, too, was Generation Z. With so many books, articles, and research studies focused on Millennials, this younger, lesser-known generation grew up right before our eyes without much fanfare.” - (Seemiller and Grace 2017) Gen Z is the newest generation to be named. Born between 1997 and 2012/15, they are currently between 8-24 years old. (Dimock 2019) (Smith and Cawthon 2017) Generation Z, or Gen Z for short, is the demographic cohort succeeding the Millennials (or Gen Y). Demographers and researchers like (Kasasa 2020) typically use the mid- to late-1990s as starting birth years, while consensus has not been reached on the ending birth years. It started with Generation X, people born between 1965-1980. The preceding generation was the Baby Boomers, born 1946-1964. A flurry of potential labels has appeared, including Gen Tech, post-Millennials, iGeneration, and Gen Y-Fi, and Zoomers. According to a report by ConsumerLab, India has roughly 200 million children under the age of 18, and 69 million of them reside in urban areas. These young people have a very different childhood to the one their parents experienced. The study also adds that 40 per cent of urban children regularly dine out at expensive restaurants and 23 per cent use their parents’ credit cards to buy new things. Children of Generation X and sometimes Millennials, members of Generation Z have used digital technology since a young age and are comfortable with the Internet and social media, but are not necessarily digitally literate. (Geck 2006) offers ideas and strategies to update library instruction and services using the Internet for Generation Z students. Born in or after 1990, these young people are unique because their birth coincides with the introduction of the graphical Web that resembles the Internet of today. These