A clan leader in northeast Arnhem Land has said that the Prime Minister should have travelled to more remote parts of the region during a visit this week.

Tony Abbott and some of his Cabinet ministers spent most of the week running the country from northeast Arnhem Land.

But when Mr Abbott left for Amberley air force base near Brisbane to farewell troops bound for the UAE he cancelled his original plan to return to Arnhem Land for the rest of the week.

Clan leader Djambawa Marawili said the trip was a great success for the visiting politicians and the region's local communities.

"It was really important for the people who had never talked to government people. It was really important when we saw Prime Minister and Cabinet come to Arnhem Land.

"The community felt he had a really good time with those communities," he said.

But Mr Marawili said he wished the Prime Minister had visited more remote parts of the region.

He said the areas where Mr Abbott spent the majority of his time were near the region's largest town Nhulunbuy.

"I would rather see him move further, to go and see the homelands. Those are the ones that are struggling," he said.

Mr Marawili said remote outstations and communities desperately needed support for education, businesses and job opportunities.

Indigenous Affairs Minister Nigel Scullion said it was a productive week and the Prime Minister had spoken to a wide range of people.

He noted Mr Abbott had travelled to more remote areas in the past.

"Djambawa's right. We can find more remote places and I can tell you, [Mr Abbott] has already visited some of those," he said.

Mr Scullion said the trip had helped build an appreciation of Indigenous culture and issues in Cabinet.

"The people who run our nation have a responsibility to understand about Aboriginal and Islander culture," he said.

Mr Abbott has vowed to return to a remote community next year and each year thereafter while he is Prime Minister.