A navy frigate escorts a Hua Hin - Pattaya ferry on Jan. 5, 2017.

Update Oct. 31: Officials today confirmed that the ferry service will resume tomorrow.

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN — Less than two years after it opened with much fanfare, a ferry connecting the resort towns of Hua Hin and Pattaya has been suspended, a tourism official said Thursday.

Citing financial losses and low monsoon season ticket sales, provincial tourism official Orasa Awutkhom announced the service would resume Nov. 1.

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“It’s currently a period of decreased tourism, or low season, so there are very few customers,” Orasa said. “Therefore, the company has halted its service from Sept. 20 to Oct. 31.”

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Opened in January 2017, the ferry is run by a private company called Royal Passenger Line, a state contractor. With the ships, travel time between Hua Hin and Pattaya on the other side of the Gulf was cut from five hours to 90 minutes.

It launched with a rough start. Its maiden voyage, set to take place on New Year’s Day, was canceled due to strong waves. A navy patrol ship was dispatched to escort the ferry when it finally took to the sea four days later.