At some point in the near future there will be a need to transition global economic systems from the current high-carbon linear production system best described as ‘take, make, dispose’ system to a low-carbon production system based on recycling. This paper briefly discusses how previous global scale economic production systems have transitioned though a series of revolutions including the Agricultural Revolution and the Industrial Revolution to create today’s high-carbon economy and mass tourism. The paper then considers implications for the tourism industry of a future transition to a low-carbon economy. The paper concludes that provided the tourism industry is proactive in its approach to this transition there are likely to be significant opportunities for further growth in tourism.