Some sex offences such as possession of child pornography are not illegal in some countries where the age of consent is lower than 16.
But any UK national committing these offences abroad will be prosecuted at home, Home Office minister Vernon Coaker said.
The new laws, in the Criminal Justice and Immigration Act 2008, will come into force on 14 July.
Coaker said: "I hope this new law will send a tough message to deter travelling sex tourists."
Jim Gamble, chief executive of the Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre, added: "No offender should be able to escape to foreign jurisdictions in order to abuse children and young people or possess images and materials that show sexual exploitation."
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