James Packer says tourists want casinos, not Ayers Rock at all times James Packer is set to give $60million to Sydney's arts as a 'thank you' for the chance to build his casino James Packer says Australia should invest in more casinos to attract middle-class Chinese and boost tourism. Picture: Stuart Mcevoy Source: Herald Sun INTERNATIONAL tourists want man-made attractions and don't want to spend all their holidays "looking at Ayers Rock," mogul James Packer says. Mr Packer was talking up the economic and tourism benefits of his $1.5 billion Sydney casino development a day after it got the green light from the NSW government. Mr Packer says Australian tourism has been underperforming and all the great tourist attractions of the world, like Las Vegas, were man-made. "We risk in Australia sometimes falling into the trap of not being realistic about what's happening in the world," Mr Packer told Macquarie radio today. Australian tourism has underperformed dramatically and if we sit here and think everything is going great with Australian tourism we are kidding ourselves. The natural attractions ... are magnificent but people also want man-made attractions. If you look at the biggest tourism success stories in the world they're man-made attractions. People do not want to spend all of their holidays looking at Ayers Rock, not to say Ayers Rock isn't fantastic. Mr Packer said his Crown Group was "hugely proud and happy and thrilled" that Premier Barry O'Farrell had endorsed the casino and described it as a "win-win." He said the rise of China would change the world in the same way the internet changed the world, and Sydney stood to reap the tourism benefits. When these people come they will spend money in Sydney and NSW and that will create taxes, that will create jobs, that will create onspend and I think there will be a big economic benefit for everyone. Mr Packer also said Crown was committed to its indigenous employment programs, with training colleges around Sydney to provide apprentice and job opportunities at the Barangaroo development, which he said was a "very traditional Aboriginal site." But the businessman said he couldn't take credit for the $60 million "thank you gift" to go towards funding arts organisations in NSW. About half of the $60m is reportedly to be spent in Sydney's west. The money was not part of the original deal but the idea of his sister Gretel. "My sister said to me - and I do what my sister tells me - my sister said to me 'this is what we're going to be doing'," he said. Sydney Opposition gambling spokesman Steve Whan said Labor would back the casino legislation in parliament. "It appears from what we've seen that it meets the very strict conditions that Labor put forward," he told ABC radio. These include a prohibition on poker machines, a "fair return," keeping the casino VIP-only and an open and transparent development process. He said the opposition never wanted a second casino but are in favour of a "great development at Barangaroo." Revenue from the casino is expected to flow to the government from 2019 but Mr Whan said the $100 million gambling licence fee should be used to fund schools. "We need to see from this government the dividend for the people of NSW being used properly ... to deliver services," he told ABC radio. Mr Whan said he understood the "cynicism" of those who think Mr Packer is able to do whatever he pleases because no one will stand up to him.