This study employs a comprehensive carbon emission coefficient estimation method to assess the carbon emissions from provincial-level tourism sectors in China spanning from 2011 to 2021. Specifically, the sectors examined include tourism transportation, accommodation, catering and retail, postal and telecommunication services, as well as tourism activities. The Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) model is applied to dissect the influencing factors of carbon emissions in the tourism industry. The results indicate an overall downward trend in carbon emissions from the tourism sector, with a spatial distribution characterized by higher emissions in the eastern regions and lower emissions in the western and northern regions. Tourism transportation and tourism activities emerge as the primary contributors to carbon emissions within the tourism sector. Additionally, the level of tourism consumption and the scale of tourists are identified as the key factors driving tourism-related carbon emissions. Furthermore, the study reveals that the tourism energy structure and tourism energy intensity play inhibitory roles in influencing carbon emissions from the tourism sector. The findings contribute to a nuanced understanding of the dynamics of carbon emissions in the Chinese tourism industry and offer valuable insights for formulating sustainable tourism development policies.