Rumours are rife on the internet, that airline tycoon Richard Branson is looking to add to his collection of private islands with the purchase of a significant landmass in the south in Thailand.

Mr Branson, whose V Australia airline recently began flying a regular service to Phuket, already owns Necker Island, in the British Virgin Islands and large chunks of the Caribbean islands of Antigua and Barbuda. ?A purchase in Asia would certainly round off his collection,? A wealth management consultant told the Post earlier this month.

Representatives of Mr Branson ? the world 261st richest person, according to Forbes Magazine ? could not be reached for comment and government sources could neither confirm nor deny that high-level talks are underway with the entrepreneur to purchase Phuket.

However Dick Pickle, a financial consultant who has been long associated with Mr Branson?s airline ventures, told the Post that ?Phuket would be Branson?s first choice.?

?Where the airlines go, so goes Richard,? Mr Pickle said. ?I understand he?s also been looking at Samui as well, but he prefers Phuket because the taxis are cheaper.?