Based on the input-output method, a relatively precise estimation has been made of the direct carbon-emission from tourism in Hunan Province from 2008 to 2014, followed by a research on the total emission, time evolution and ratio features of its carbon emissions. By utilizing Tapio decoupling model, an analysis has been made of the decoupling effect between the direct carbon emissions from tourism and tourism-related economic growth in Hunan Province. On this basis, a series of low-carbon tourism development measures in Hunan Province has thus been put forward. The research results show that the direct carbon-emissions from tourism in Hunan Province, from 2008 to 2014, have been increasing rapidly, with its volume raised from 2.952 5 million tons to 7.831 4 million tons. Among the many sectors responsible for direct carbon emissions, tourism transportation, catering, shopping and accommodation sectors account for more than 90% of the total emissions from 2008 to 2014 in Hunan Province, which justifies a priority given to the reduction of carbon emissions of these sectors. There is a relatively significant change both in the direct carbon emissions and the decoupling elasticity of tourism-related economic growth, with extended decoupling and weak decoupling as the main patterns. A strong decoupling can only be found in certain particular year and with no consistency and coherence at all.