<p>Unleashing the green benefits of the digital economy has become a critical driver for advancing carbon peaking and neutrality objectives within the contemporary tourism sector. Using China's 2011–2021 provincial data and the “Technology-Organization-Environment” (TOE) framework, this study applies spatial econometric models to explore how the digital economy affects tourism carbon neutrality ability and its mechanisms. The main findings are as follows. First, the digital economy (DE) exhibits a “T-shaped” evolution pattern in China, led by the eastern coastal provinces, while tourism carbon neutrality ability evolves in a “one superpower and two poles” pattern centered on southwestern provinces, Beijing, and Shanghai. Second, the digital economy exerts an “inverted U-shaped” direct impact and a “U-shaped” spillover effect on tourism carbon neutrality ability (TCN). The direct impact is most pronounced in western and central provinces in both stages, while the spillover effect is most evident in eastern provinces. Third, the digital economy positively and directly, as well as through spillover effects, influences tourism carbon neutrality ability by promoting green technology diffusion and enhancing green investment levels. Market integration has a positive direct and negative spillover impact, while industrial structure upgrading only has a positive direct effect. At last, this study provides important theoretical references and insights for every country to optimize its green and interconnected tourism development patterns.</p>