Tony Blair has urged more people to support the Palestinian economy by visiting the sites of the Holy Land and staying in cities like Bethlehem.

"Bethlehem is safe and a great place to visit. Everyone who can should share the experience," he said.

Speaking to journalists at a joint press conference with the Palestinian minister for tourism, Khouloud Daibes, Mr Blair went on:

“There are many places here that are very important for people of any of the Abrahamic religions. Speaking personally, Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Jericho and the Jordan Valley – these areas of the Holy Land - are probably the most sought after tourist destinations for anyone with a sense of religious history.”

He added that the political dialogue at the Annapolis conference, last month, and the Paris donors’ conference, later in December, would only be effective “if at the same time we are able to make change really happen on the ground.”

“We don’t think we need a lot of changes. We need proper access into Bethlehem. We need the restrictions on access to be progressively lifted over time.”

Mr Blair said that action from the international community was needed to bring about the changes that would allow access to the city, which is surrounded by the Israeli separation wall and can only be accessed through Israeli military checkpoints. “It would be a great place if the context was different,” he added.

Citing Bethlehem as the litmus test for Israeli commitment to peace, he told reporters, “The real test of the sincerity of the Israeli side is if we really get change here in Bethlehem.”

“I know the Palestinian Authority is prepared to do everything it can to meet any legitimate security concerns but really there is no reason why tourists cannot come here safely,” he added.